Performance Overview - In 2024, the company achieved operating revenue of 5.364 billion yuan, a decrease of 10.80%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 757 million yuan, down 65.72% [1] - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 5.00 yuan for every 10 shares, with a dividend yield of 1.73% as of April 24, 2025 [1] - In Q1 2025, the company reported operating revenue of 1.536 billion yuan, an increase of 36.37% year-on-year but a decrease of 14.38% quarter-on-quarter, with a net profit of 135 million yuan, down 47.38% year-on-year and 36.19% quarter-on-quarter [1] Impact of Lithium Price Decline - The overall revenue decline in 2024 was primarily due to the drop in lithium prices, with the lithium battery raw material development and utilization business generating revenue of 3.129 billion yuan, down 26.25% [2] - The average spot price of lithium carbonate fell by 65.0% year-on-year to 90,510 yuan/ton, with a further decline of approximately 22.6% from the beginning of the year [2] - The company achieved lithium salt sales of 42,649 tons, an increase of 145.01%, with self-owned mines contributing 39,477 tons, up 164% [2] Profitability Trends - In 2024, the company's gross margin and net margin were 32.75% and 14.05%, respectively, with significant declines of 22.06 percentage points and 22.57 percentage points [2] - The gross margin for the lithium battery raw material business dropped by 39.15 percentage points to 18.62%, primarily due to falling lithium prices [2] - The rare light metals resource development business saw a gross margin increase of 13.91 percentage points to 78.29%, attributed to higher product prices [2] Resource Integration and Development - The company has a total of 418,000 tons/year of mining capacity and 66,000 tons/year of battery-grade lithium salt capacity [3] - Plans include completing the construction of a 1 million tons/year lithium mine in Canada by 2025 and a 30,000 tons/year integrated mining and processing facility in Africa by 2026 [3] - The company acquired a 65% stake in the Kitumba copper mine in Zambia, with a design scale of 3.5 million tons/year, and plans to start construction of the smelting project in May 2025 [3] Investment Outlook - As a leading lithium and rare salt producer, the company aims to enhance resource self-sufficiency and reduce production costs through acquisitions and mining [4] - The company is expected to achieve operating revenues of 5.65 billion, 7.24 billion, and 10.84 billion yuan from 2025 to 2027, with year-on-year growth rates of 5.3%, 28.2%, and 49.8% respectively [4] - Projected net profits for the same period are 930 million, 1.25 billion, and 1.95 billion yuan, with growth rates of 23.1%, 34.5%, and 55.7% respectively [4]

Performance Summary - In 2024, the company achieved revenue of 5.364 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 10.8%, primarily due to the decline in lithium prices [1] - For Q1 2025, revenue was 1.536 billion yuan, a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 14.38% but a year-on-year increase of 36.37%, driven by significant growth in cesium and rubidium salt business [1] - The net profit attributable to shareholders for 2024 was 757 million yuan, down 65.72% year-on-year; in Q1 2025, the net profit was 135 million yuan, a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 36.19%, with a loss of 100 million yuan from the Tsumeb smelter [1] Lithium and Cesium Sales - In 2024, lithium salt production doubled, with output and sales reaching 43,732 tons and 42,649 tons respectively, up 138% and 145% year-on-year; cesium salt production remained stable at 960 tons, while formic cesium sales decreased by 21% to 2,320 bbl [2] - The average selling price of lithium salt in 2024 was 73,400 yuan/ton, a decrease of 70% year-on-year; the average price of cesium salt was 862,600 yuan/ton, an increase of 22%, with formic cesium averaging 287,500 yuan/bbl, up 102% [2] - In Q1 2025, lithium salt sales were 8,964 tons, a year-on-year increase of 13%, while cesium salt sales surged by 78% to 265 dry tons; the average spot price of lithium carbonate was 75,800 yuan/ton, down 1% year-on-year [2] Business Synergy - The company owns lithium mines in Zimbabwe (Bikita) and Canada (Tanco), with a total processing capacity of 4.18 million tons/year; in 2024, lithium salt sales reached 42,600 tons, with self-sourced mines contributing 39,500 tons, achieving a self-sufficiency rate of 93% [3] - Lithium business generated revenue of 3.1 billion yuan in 2024, accounting for 58% of total revenue, down 13 percentage points year-on-year, with a gross profit of 583 million yuan, representing 33% of total gross profit, down 41 percentage points year-on-year [3] - The cesium and rubidium salt segment, as a global leader, achieved revenue of 1.4 billion yuan in 2024, up 7% year-on-year, accounting for 26% of total revenue, with a gross profit of 1.1 billion yuan, up 40 percentage points year-on-year, and a gross margin of 64% [3] Smelting Business - In Q1 2025, the Tsumeb smelter in Namibia incurred a net profit loss of 100 million yuan, impacting short-term performance; however, the company has implemented cost reduction and efficiency improvement measures to restore profitability [4] - The historical low of lithium prices has positioned the cesium and rubidium business as a stabilizing factor for profitability; in 2024, the overall gross margin was 33%, down 22 percentage points year-on-year, while the cesium and rubidium business gross margin improved to 78%, up 14 percentage points [4] - In Q1 2025, the gross margin was 22%, down 5% quarter-on-quarter, while the cesium and rubidium business achieved a gross margin of 67%, significantly supporting the company's profitability during the lithium price decline [4] Investment Outlook - The company is strategically positioned in cesium, rubidium, lithium, and copper sectors, gradually implementing a multi-metal platform development strategy; this diversified approach is expected to solidify the company's fundamentals and enhance performance elasticity amid declining lithium prices [4] - The company has notable advantages in exploration and management, which are expected to lead to continuous cost reductions; projected net profits for 2025-2027 are 642 million, 1.063 billion, and 1.840 billion yuan respectively [4]

Financial Performance - In 2024, the company achieved operating revenue of 5.364 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 10.80% [1] - The net profit attributable to shareholders was 757 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 65.72% [1] - The net profit after deducting non-recurring items was 603 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 71.71% [1] - In Q1 2025, the company reported operating revenue of 1.536 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 36.37% [1] - The net profit attributable to shareholders in Q1 2025 was 135 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 47.38% [1] - The net profit after deducting non-recurring items in Q1 2025 was 43 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 81.28% [1] - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 5 yuan per 10 shares (including tax) [1] Lithium Business Impact - The company's lithium salt production in 2024 increased by 137.75% to 43,700 tons [2] - Lithium salt sales reached 42,600 tons in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 145.01% [2] - The self-sufficiency rate of the company's lithium mines improved, effectively reducing production costs [2] - However, the average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate fell by 65.70% to 90,200 yuan/ton, and battery-grade lithium hydroxide dropped by 68.49% to 88,600 yuan/ton [2] - The gross margin for lithium battery raw material development and utilization decreased by 39.15 percentage points to 18.62%, negatively impacting overall performance [2] Rare Metals Segment - The rare light metal (potassium salt) segment achieved operating revenue of 1.395 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 24.16% [2] - The gross profit for this segment was 1.092 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 50.98%, reinforcing the company's leading position in the global potassium salt industry [2] Multi-Metal Business Strategy - The company acquired a 65% stake in the Kitumba copper mine project in Zambia and initiated the investment in an integrated mining and smelting project [3] - The design capacity for the Kitumba project is 3.5 million tons/year for ore mining and 60,000 tons/year for cathode copper [3] - The company also acquired a 98% stake in the Tsumeb project in Namibia, starting a 20,000 tons/year multi-metal recycling project [3] - This strategic acquisition allows the company to enter new high-quality resource sectors, including copper and rare resources like germanium [3] - The company aims to leverage its expertise in solid mineral exploration to enhance acquisition efficiency and reduce costs, supporting sustainable development in mineral rights [3] Future Growth Potential - The acquisitions in Zambia and Namibia are expected to become new growth points for the company, showcasing its capabilities in mineral exploration [4] - The projected net profits for 2025-2027 are 823 million yuan, 1.32 billion yuan, and 2.121 billion yuan, respectively [4] - Corresponding EPS for 2025-2027 is estimated at 1.14, 1.83, and 2.94 yuan, with PE ratios of 25, 16, and 10x [4]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Outperform the Market" [4][6][17] Core Views - The company has diversified its multi-metal layout to withstand the downward pressure in the lithium industry, indicating potential for future growth [1][4] - The company reported a revenue of 5.36 billion yuan for 2024, a decrease of 10.8% year-on-year, and a net profit of 757 million yuan, down 65.7% year-on-year [2][7] - The company is actively implementing cost reduction and efficiency improvement measures in response to the challenges in the lithium sector, including plans to gradually start a 30,000 tons/year lithium sulfate production capacity in Zimbabwe [3][9] Financial Performance - In 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 5.36 billion yuan, a net profit of 757 million yuan, and a non-recurring net profit of 600 million yuan, reflecting significant declines in profitability [2][7] - For Q1 2025, the company reported a revenue of 1.54 billion yuan, an increase of 36.4% year-on-year, but a net profit of 130 million yuan, down 47.4% year-on-year [2][7] - The company’s cesium business generated a revenue of 1.4 billion yuan in 2024, up 24.2% year-on-year, with a gross profit margin of 78.3% [9][10] Business Segments - In the cesium business, the company achieved a revenue of 3.45 billion yuan in Q1 2025, a year-on-year increase of 94%, solidifying its leading position in the industry [9][10] - The lithium business saw a production of approximately 43,700 tons in 2024, a 138% increase year-on-year, with sales of about 42,600 tons, up 145% year-on-year [3][9] - The copper business is expanding with the Kitumba project, which is expected to be operational by Q3 2026, with a designed capacity of 60,000 tons of cathode copper per year [10][11] Future Outlook - The company is projected to achieve revenues of 5.86 billion yuan, 7.81 billion yuan, and 11.53 billion yuan for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, with year-on-year growth rates of 9.3%, 33.2%, and 47.6% [4][17] - The net profit is expected to increase to 1.01 billion yuan, 1.70 billion yuan, and 2.81 billion yuan for the same years, with growth rates of 33.6%, 67.7%, and 65.5% respectively [4][17] - The company maintains a strong long-term growth potential due to its robust exploration capabilities and the steady development of its cesium and lithium businesses [4][17]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Outperform the Market" [4][6][17] Core Views - The company has diversified its multi-metal layout to withstand the downward pressure in the lithium industry, indicating promising future growth potential [1][4] - The company reported a revenue of 5.36 billion yuan for 2024, a decrease of 10.8% year-on-year, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 760 million yuan, down 65.7% year-on-year [2][7] - The company is actively implementing cost reduction and efficiency enhancement measures in response to the challenges in the lithium sector, including plans to gradually start a 30,000 tons/year lithium sulfate production capacity in Zimbabwe [3][9] Financial Performance Summary - For 2024, the company achieved a revenue of 5.36 billion yuan, a decrease of 10.8% year-on-year, and a net profit of 760 million yuan, down 65.7% year-on-year [2][7] - The first quarter of 2025 saw a revenue of 1.54 billion yuan, an increase of 36.4% year-on-year, but a net profit of 130 million yuan, down 47.4% year-on-year [2][7] - The company’s cesium business generated a revenue of 1.4 billion yuan in 2024, up 24.2% year-on-year, with a gross profit margin of 78.3% [9][10] Business Segment Performance - In the cesium business, the company achieved a revenue of 3.45 billion yuan in Q1 2025, a significant increase of 94% year-on-year [9][10] - The lithium business produced approximately 43,700 tons of lithium salt in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 138%, with sales of about 42,600 tons, up 145% [3][9] - The copper business is expanding with the Kitumba project, which is expected to be operational by Q3 2026, with a designed capacity of 60,000 tons of cathode copper per year [10][11] Future Projections - Revenue projections for 2025-2027 are 5.86 billion yuan, 7.81 billion yuan, and 11.53 billion yuan, with year-on-year growth rates of 9.3%, 33.2%, and 47.6% respectively [4][17] - Net profit projections for the same period are 1.01 billion yuan, 1.70 billion yuan, and 2.81 billion yuan, with growth rates of 33.6%, 67.7%, and 65.5% respectively [4][17] - The company is expected to maintain strong long-term growth potential due to its robust exploration capabilities and the steady development of its cesium and lithium businesses [4][17]