Summary of the Conference Call on the Tool Industry Industry Overview - The conference call focuses on the tool industry, specifically highlighting the performance of companies Huari Co., Ltd. and Oke Yi in Q3 2025 [1][2][3]. Key Points and Arguments - **Significant Growth**: - Huari reported a revenue growth of approximately 45% in Q3 2025, with a net profit of around 50 million yuan, marking a year-on-year increase of 9 times [1][2][3]. - Oke Yi's revenue increased by 33% year-on-year and 40% quarter-on-quarter, with a net profit exceeding 50 million yuan, reflecting a 70% year-on-year growth [1][2][4]. - **Raw Material Price Surge**: - The prices of key raw materials, tungsten concentrate and tungsten carbide, have skyrocketed, with tungsten concentrate rising from 140,000-150,000 yuan to over 300,000 yuan, and tungsten carbide increasing from over 300 yuan to around 710-720 yuan [1][5][6]. - This price surge has acted as a catalyst for industry growth, allowing midstream consumables to effectively transmit price increases [5]. - **Price Adjustments by Companies**: - Huari and Oke Yi have implemented 3-4 rounds of price adjustments this year, with each adjustment around 10%, totaling an overall adjustment of 30%-40% to cover raw material cost increases [6]. - **Market Dynamics**: - The industrial sector is experiencing low inventory levels combined with direct replenishment demand, putting pressure on smaller companies while larger firms adjust sales strategies to navigate market changes [6][7]. - Emerging industries such as wind power, automotive, and military are driving rigid demand growth, leading to a depletion of low-priced inventory among distributors and prompting tool replenishment [7]. - **Current Industry Challenges**: - The tool industry is currently at the bottom of the cycle, with weakened demand in general automation and manufacturing since 2022, leading to reduced inventory levels without significant replenishment [8]. - Despite revenue growth, profit margins have been under pressure due to low capacity utilization and previous investments [8]. - **Future Outlook**: - There is an optimistic outlook for the tool industry, with potential policy signals that could trigger a new wave of demand [11]. - The ongoing trends of international expansion and high-end product development are expected to continue, with Huari and Oke Yi positioned as leading companies in this sector [11]. Additional Important Insights - **Investment Considerations**: - The importance of inventory cycles in investment decisions is diminishing, but attention should still be paid to inventory and demand momentum [12]. - The current bottom of the cycle presents opportunities in cyclical assets like consumable tools, which can benefit directly from changes in demand due to low inventory levels [12]. This summary encapsulates the key insights from the conference call regarding the tool industry and the performance of Huari and Oke Yi, highlighting growth trends, challenges, and future expectations.

Summary of Tungsten Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The tungsten industry experienced a revenue growth of 10.3% and a profit increase of 5.9% in the first half of 2025, with mining companies showing outstanding performance, achieving revenue and profit growth of 29% and 43% respectively [2][3] - The smelting enterprises reported a low profit margin of 2.26%, while hard alloy profit margin was 5.67%, and tungsten products had a relatively better profit margin of 10.5% [2][3] Key Insights - The export of tungsten products, particularly APT and tungsten oxide, saw a significant decline of approximately 70% due to dual-use item regulations, while hard alloy exports slightly decreased by 1% [2][5] - On the import side, there was a notable increase of over 60% in ore imports, along with a rise in the import of recycled tungsten materials [5] - The price of tungsten surged in July and August 2025, primarily due to tight supply and demand dynamics, with ore prices exceeding 280,000 yuan per ton [6] - The consumption structure of tungsten indicates that 60% is used for hard alloys, with 50% of that for cutting tools, mainly in the manufacturing sector [2][7] Emerging Demand Areas - New growth areas for tungsten demand include nuclear fusion and military applications, which are expected to drive steady demand increases [2][7] - The nuclear fusion sector requires approximately 50-250 tons of tungsten per reactor, highlighting its critical role in advanced technologies [4][22] - High-purity tungsten target materials are anticipated to see increased demand in the AI and semiconductor sectors as technology matures [4][23][24] Challenges in Supply - European and American mines face environmental and cost pressures, with Australian mines potentially reducing output due to a shift to underground mining [8] - New tungsten mining projects in China are hindered by land use policies and environmental regulations, affecting construction timelines [9] Market Dynamics - The recycling of tungsten saw a significant increase in 2024, reaching 24,300 tons, but experienced a decline in the first half of 2025, indicating that previous potential has been largely exhausted [10][18] - The overall market growth in 2024 was significant, but the first half of 2025 saw a decline of approximately 18% compared to the previous year [19][20] Price Trends and Acceptance - The recent price increases have been met with varying levels of acceptance among downstream enterprises, with high-end products showing resilience while mid to low-end products face challenges [13] - Inventory levels among downstream companies are currently low, with some firms maintaining about a month's worth of raw materials [14] Future Outlook - The overall profitability of the tungsten industry is expected to improve in the coming months, contingent on successful price adjustments [16] - The supply tightness is projected to persist, providing support for future price stability [6][17]

Core Insights - The company anticipates a significant increase in the price of raw material tungsten carbide in 2025, which is expected to positively impact its operations [1] Group 1 - The company has increased its raw material inventory in the first half of the year to prepare for rising costs [1] - The company is continuously adjusting its product prices, with a notable increase in the second half of the year to offset the impact of rising raw material costs [1] - Overall, the increase in raw material prices is viewed as having a positive effect on the company [1]

Core Viewpoint - The company, 欧科亿, anticipates a significant increase in the price of tungsten carbide raw materials in 2025, which has led to proactive inventory management and price adjustments to mitigate the impact of rising costs [1] Group 1 - The company has increased its raw material inventory in the first half of the year to prepare for anticipated price hikes [1] - There has been a notable increase in product prices in the second half of the year, which is expected to offset the rising costs of raw materials [1] - Overall, the increase in raw material prices is viewed positively for the company, suggesting potential benefits from the price adjustments [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that the tungsten industry is expected to undergo a systematic re-evaluation due to strengthened regulations, declining resource grades, and geopolitical factors, leading to limited future supply growth [1][3] - The Ministry of Natural Resources has reduced the first batch of tungsten mining quotas for 2025 to 58,000 tons, a decrease of 4,000 and 5,000 tons compared to 2024 and 2023 respectively, indicating a clear tightening of mining regulations [1] - China's tungsten ore grade has declined from 0.42% in 2004 to 0.28% in 2020, which has significantly limited the release of production capacity due to long-term high-intensity mining [1] Group 2 - The downstream applications of tungsten are expanding, with a projected consumption of 55,300 tons in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 3.9%, driven by manufacturing upgrades and high demand in mining and machinery sectors [2] - The Yarlung Tsangpo River downstream hydropower project, with a total investment of 1.2 trillion yuan, is expected to significantly boost the demand for tungsten materials in tooling and mining equipment [2] Group 3 - Export controls on tungsten and the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. are reshaping the industry landscape, with China implementing export restrictions on various tungsten products to promote domestic industrial upgrades [3] - The U.S. has announced a 25% tariff on certain tungsten products imported from China, aimed at weakening China's influence in critical metals and enhancing the self-sufficiency of strategic industries [3]

Core Insights - In August, the domestic 65% tungsten concentrate price increased by 32.3% to 262,500 CNY/ton, with APT rising by 31.6%, tungsten carbide by 35.7%, and tungsten powder by 36%. In Q2, the domestic 65% tungsten concentrate price surged over 80%. The report suggests that China's control over tungsten metal will have a long-term positive impact on tungsten prices, similar to the effects seen with rare earths [3]. Advanced Manufacturing Group - BYD reported a revenue of 371.3 billion CNY for the first half of the year, a year-on-year increase of 23%, with a net profit of 15.5 billion CNY, up 14% year-on-year. The growth is attributed to a 32.49% increase in revenue from the new energy vehicle segment, a 50.49% rise in overseas revenue, and a 53.05% increase in R&D investment [6]. - Despite strong revenue and profit figures, concerns were raised regarding a 191.8 billion CNY gap between accounts payable and receivable, high inventory levels at 145.5 billion CNY, low technology R&D conversion rates, and a significant drop in Q2 net profit, which fell to 6.4 billion CNY, down 31% quarter-on-quarter and 30% year-on-year [6]. Consumption Group - Meitu Inc. reported an adjusted net profit of 467 million CNY for the first half of 2025, a substantial increase of 71.3% year-on-year, exceeding market expectations. The adjusted net profit margin reached 25.7%, up 8.8 percentage points year-on-year. The core imaging and design business generated 1.35 billion CNY in revenue, a 45.2% increase, accounting for 74.2% of total revenue [9]. - The growth strategy focused on "focusing on core + efficiency improvement," which involved shrinking non-core businesses to concentrate resources, leading to improved profitability driven by the high growth of the imaging and design business [9].

Investment Rating - The report assigns a positive investment rating, suggesting subscription to the IPO based on the anticipated demand and market conditions [10]. Core Insights - Jaxin International (3858.HK) is a tungsten mining company focused on the Bakuta tungsten mine in Kazakhstan, which is one of the largest tungsten resources globally [1][3]. - The company plans to dual-list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Astana International Exchange [1]. - The Bakuta project is expected to commence commercial production in April 2025, with a target mining and processing capacity of 3.3 million tons of tungsten ore in 2025, and an anticipated increase to 4.95 million tons per year by Q1 2027 [1]. Company Overview - Jaxin International is primarily engaged in the development of the Bakuta tungsten mine, which is noted for its significant tungsten oxide (WO3) resources [1]. - The company has established sales agreements for white tungsten concentrate with Jiangxi Copper and Jiangxi Tungsten for 2025 and 2026 [1]. Financial Performance - The company is projected to have no revenue before 2025, with an expected revenue of HKD 126 million by June 2025 [2]. - The net losses for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 are reported at HKD 93.661 million, HKD 78.92 million, and HKD 172.97 million respectively, with a reduced loss of HKD 5.996 million by June 2025 [2]. Industry Status and Outlook - China is the largest tungsten resource country, holding over 50% of global reserves, but its tungsten production has decreased from 69,000 tons in 2019 to 67,000 tons in 2024 [3]. - The demand for tungsten is increasing in various sectors, with consumption rising from 47,300 tons in 2019 to 55,300 tons in 2024, and projected to reach 65,500 tons by 2029 [3]. Advantages and Opportunities - The Bakuta tungsten mine is strategically located and benefits from the Belt and Road Initiative, enhancing its market potential [4]. - The company has a strong management team with valuable industry experience, which supports its growth and expansion [4]. Use of Proceeds - Approximately 55% of the net proceeds (HKD 598.3 million) will be allocated to the development of the Bakuta project, with 10% for ammonium paratungstate (APT) capacity development, and 25% for repaying bank loans [6]. IPO Details - The IPO is set to launch on August 28, 2025, with an issue price of HKD 10.92 and a total fundraising amount of HKD 1.199 billion [8]. - The post-IPO market capitalization is estimated at HKD 47.96 billion [8].

Core Insights - Tungsten has emerged as a critical resource in military industrial applications, with a melting point of 3400°C and hardness second only to diamond, making it essential for armor-piercing ammunition, missile engine components, and advanced chip manufacturing [1][7]. Resource Comparison - Global tungsten reserves are approximately 4.6 million tons, with China holding 2.4 million tons (52.17%), Russia at 450,000 tons, and the U.S. at only 140,000 tons [3]. - In China, the Jiangxi Gannan region hosts significant tungsten deposits, with the Zhu Xi tungsten mine and Wu Ning Da Hu Tang tungsten mine holding reserves of 2.86 million tons and 1.06 million tons, respectively, surpassing the combined reserves of the U.S. and Russia [3]. U.S. and Russian Challenges - The U.S. has ceased commercial tungsten mining since 2015, relying on imports for 58% of its tungsten alloy needs, primarily from China [5]. - Russia's tungsten mining is hindered by extreme environmental conditions and high transportation costs, limiting its production capacity to 3,000 tons per year, which is only one-twentieth of China's output [5]. Military Applications - Tungsten's military value is highlighted in the Ukraine conflict, where tungsten alloy armor-piercing shells can penetrate thick armor due to their high density [7]. - The U.S. military consumes over 6,000 tons of tungsten annually, and any disruption in the supply chain could cripple half of its weapon production lines [7]. Supply Chain Control - China controls the entire tungsten supply chain, from mining to high-end processing, implementing annual quotas and monopolizing deep processing technologies, which increases costs for Western companies by 30% [9]. - Export restrictions on tungsten products starting in 2025 have already led to a 25% drop in export volumes, pushing international tungsten prices close to historical highs [9]. Historical Context - The competition for tungsten resources dates back to the 1930s, with significant historical events involving tungsten trade impacting military capabilities during World War II and the Cold War [12][14]. - The ongoing "tungsten war" reflects the geopolitical struggle for resource control, with China transitioning from a resource exporter to a technology price setter [16]. Future Implications - The strategic importance of tungsten is underscored by its applications in advanced technologies, such as nano tungsten wires for chip etching and tungsten-molybdenum alloys for hypersonic missiles [16]. - The potential for a supply disruption from China is recognized as a top-tier risk for the U.S. military, with significant implications for various industries, including aerospace and semiconductors [16].

Core Viewpoint - The prices of tungsten concentrate and major tungsten products have surged to historical highs due to supply tightening, emerging demand, and policy adjustments, benefiting leading companies in the tungsten industry [1] Group 1: Industry Overview - As of August 2025, the price of 65% black tungsten concentrate has exceeded 200,000 yuan/ton, with a year-to-date increase of nearly 40% [1] - Ammonium paratungstate (APT) has reached 291,000 yuan/ton, up 37.9% since the beginning of the year [1] - Tungsten powder prices have risen to 438 yuan/kg, reflecting a 38.6% increase [1] Group 2: Leading Companies - **Xiamen Tungsten (600549)**: A global leader in the tungsten industry chain, covering mining, smelting, and deep processing, with tungsten and molybdenum business revenue expected to account for nearly 50% in 2024 [3] - Dominates the photovoltaic tungsten wire market with a Q2 2025 shipment of 80 billion meters and over 65% global market share [3] - Collaborates with major clients like Longi Green Energy and TCL Zhonghuan, with a projected net profit growth of over 30% by 2025 [3][4] - **China Tungsten High-Tech (000657)**: A leading hard alloy manufacturer under the Minmetals Group, holding over 30% global market share and a 70% self-sufficiency rate in resources [5] - High-end products are expected to account for 55% of revenue by 2025, with a gross margin increase to 35% [6] - Benefits from tightened tungsten mining quotas, with a profit increase of 120 million yuan for every 10,000 yuan rise in tungsten prices [7] - Acquired Germany's HPTec Group to enhance high-end tool technology [8] - **Zhangyuan Tungsten (002378)**: Among the top three tungsten resource companies in China, with over 60% self-sufficiency in tungsten concentrate [9] - Revenue increased by 32.65% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with high-end product sales reaching 40% [10] - Plans to add 7,000 tons of tungsten powder capacity through a technology upgrade project [11] - **Xianglu Tungsten (002842)**: A core supplier of hard alloys, benefiting from the recovery in the machine tool industry [12] - Machine tool output increased by 18.3% year-on-year from January to July 2025, boosting tungsten demand [13] - Active in the small metals sector, with a stock price increase of over 30% in 2025 [14] - **Luoyang Molybdenum (603993)**: The second-largest tungsten producer globally, with an expected tungsten concentrate output of 12,000 tons in 2025 [16] - Developing tungsten resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a cost advantage of 15% lower than domestic costs [17] - Anticipates a 22% year-on-year increase in tungsten consumption in the power battery sector by 2025 [18] - Currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 12, below the industry average of 18, indicating significant valuation recovery potential [19] Group 3: Supply and Demand Dynamics - Supply constraints are evident with a 6.45% year-on-year reduction in tungsten mining quotas for 2025 and the closure of 18 mines due to environmental policies [20] - The global demand for tungsten is expected to exceed 4,500 tons by 2025, driven by the photovoltaic sector and military upgrades [22][23] - The price of tungsten is projected to rise, with estimates suggesting it may exceed 460,000 yuan/ton by Q3 2025, and a long-term price center could move to 500,000 yuan/ton [22]

Summary of Tungsten Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The tungsten mining indicators in China have been tightened for two consecutive years, with the first batch of 2025 indicators decreasing by 6.5% to 58,000 tons, alongside increased efforts to combat illegal smuggling and enhance environmental inspections, aimed at controlling production and consolidating policy effects [2][4][6] - The global supply-demand relationship for tungsten is tightening, with an expected gap to continue expanding from 2026 to 2028 [2][3] - The price of tungsten concentrate in China has surged to 193,000 yuan per ton, marking a cumulative increase of 36% since the beginning of the year, reaching a historical high [2][5] Key Points and Arguments - **Export Controls**: China has implemented export controls on heavy tungsten acid, tungsten oxide, and tungsten carbide, leading to a short-term decline in export volumes. However, due to high overseas premiums, some products have seen a recovery, with ammonium paratungstate exports increasing by 70% year-on-year [2][4][6] - **Geopolitical Factors**: Conflicts between India and Pakistan have highlighted tungsten's strategic metal value, contributing to price increases [4] - **Supply Constraints**: Domestic and international supply constraints are expected to drive long-term price increases, with the market entering a bullish phase [3][4][17] - **Price Disparity**: There is a significant price disparity between domestic and overseas tungsten prices, with overseas APT prices significantly higher than domestic prices. Chinese companies can maintain growth by increasing exports to regions not subject to the 301 tariffs [2][16][20] Policy Measures - **Mining Quota Control**: China has a history of controlling tungsten mining quotas since 1991, with the first batch for 2025 set at 58,000 tons, a decrease from previous years [6] - **Export Control Implementation**: Export controls were strengthened in February 2025, leading to a drop in overall tungsten product exports, although certain downstream products like tools and blades have seen growth [22][23] - **Environmental and Smuggling Crackdown**: Increased efforts to combat illegal smuggling and enhance environmental inspections have been noted, effectively reducing over-extraction rates [6] Global Responses - **EU and US Initiatives**: Both the EU and the US have taken measures to secure critical metal supplies, with the EU setting local mining, processing, and recycling targets, and the US enhancing domestic production capabilities through legislation and international cooperation [7][9][12] - **US Tariffs**: The US has imposed a 25% tariff on Chinese tungsten concentrate and downstream products, aiming to restructure the supply chain and increase tungsten stockpiles in the fiscal years 2024-2025 [13][14][15] Future Supply and Demand Dynamics - **Supply Growth Limitations**: Global supply growth remains constrained, with emerging industries and geopolitical security demands driving long-term demand growth [17][19] - **Production Forecasts**: Global tungsten production is expected to rise from 81,000 tons in 2023 to 90,300 tons by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.57% [18][24] - **Chinese Market Drivers**: Demand in China is driven by manufacturing upgrades and large infrastructure projects, with significant growth in hard alloy tungsten material consumption [19] Price Trends and Predictions - **Short-term Price Outlook**: In the short term, the tightening supply-demand relationship and low global inventories are expected to benefit Chinese tungsten concentrate prices, potentially leading to new historical highs [24] - **Long-term Price Projections**: Long-term projections indicate that the global supply-demand gap will further widen, driving prices upward and indicating a bullish market trend [24] Investment Insights - **Company Performance Trends**: Analysis of major listed companies indicates stable profit growth driven by resource injection and downstream product price increases [26] - **Investment Selection Criteria**: Investors are advised to focus on companies with strong upstream resource development potential and robust downstream pricing capabilities, particularly those benefiting from high overseas premiums [27][28]