2025-10-09 02:00Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview: Non-Ferrous Metals (Copper, Gold, Cobalt, Nickel) Copper Market Insights - Copper prices are expected to reach new highs in the first half of 2026, potentially hitting the range of 12,000-14,000 CNY, driven by supply constraints due to production cuts and mine shutdowns, notably at Freeport's Grasberg mine, leading to a cumulative global copper production guidance reduction of nearly 500,000 tons [1][2][3] - The global copper supply is likely to remain flat in 2026, with most companies experiencing slowed growth, although optimism about the copper market trend persists for the coming years [1][6] - Downstream industries are increasingly accepting higher copper prices, with the current acceptable price around 78,000 CNY, and demand from the State Grid and stable growth in the air conditioning and automotive sectors are expected to maintain overall copper demand growth at around 2% [1][10] Company-Specific Insights - Zijin Mining is projected to produce 190,000-200,000 tons in 2025, increasing to 250,000-270,000 tons in 2026, and reaching 300,000 tons in 2027. The company commits to a dividend payout ratio exceeding 50% from 2024 to 2026, with a dividend yield close to 5% and profits estimated at 48-49 billion CNY [1][11] - The market capitalization of Zijin Mining is expected to reach between 900 billion to 1 trillion CNY, indicating a favorable valuation compared to its long-term valuation range of 11-15 times [1][11] Smelting Industry Outlook - The smelting industry is anticipated to face tight supply next year, with leading companies unlikely to incur losses even if processing fees are zero, due to high sulfuric acid prices and expectations of reduced competition [1][12] Cobalt Market Dynamics - The cobalt market has shown strong performance, with the U.S. designating cobalt as a strategic resource. Supply tightness in the Democratic Republic of Congo and increased government quota management are driving cobalt prices up, with Huayou Cobalt expected to achieve profits exceeding 7 billion CNY in 2026 [3][16] Nickel Market Developments - Recent policy changes in Indonesia regarding nickel mining approvals are expected to tighten global nickel supply, potentially leading to price increases. Current nickel prices are around 15,500 USD/ton, with expectations to rise to 17,000 USD/ton [17][18] Investment Recommendations - Companies to watch include Zijin Mining and Tongling Nonferrous Metals in the copper sector, as well as Huayou Cobalt in the cobalt market. In the gold sector, Zijin Mining, Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining, and Shandong Gold are recommended [5][21] Long-term Market Logic - The copper market is primarily influenced by supply factors, while gold benefits from central bank and ETF purchases, and cobalt is affected by supply conditions in the Democratic Republic of Congo. These trends suggest that prices for copper, gold, and cobalt may exceed market expectations in both the short and long term [20]