South Korea's 'MOIS' has launched a national drive to establish community-owned solar cooperatives, targeting 2,500 'Sunlight Income Villages' by 2030. Under the program, communities will install 300 kW to 1 MW plants on idle land to share revenues among residents. The government is offering long-term, low-interest loans covering up to 85% of costs from a KRW 450 billion renewable energy fund in 2026. To overcome grid bottlenecks, the initiative grants projects priority grid access and 'ESS' installation support, while mandating the use of domestically produced modules and inverters.

Zhongli Co., Ltd. (603194.SH) announced that, to meet its business development needs, the company plans to invest 350 million yuan in the Zhejiang Anji Economic Development Zone to build a project with annual production capacity of 50,000 intelligent robots and 100,000 sets of forklift components and parts. The funding will come from self-raised funds, including its own funds and bank loans. The project will primarily engage in the R&D and manufacturing of intelligent robots and forklift components and parts equipment.

Solid-state batteries were a hot topic at the 2026 Two Sessions, where delegates noted that the industry is at a critical inflection point, moving from “samples” to “products.”

The central bank’s February financial statistics report showed that at end-February, the balance of broad money (M2) stood at 349.22 trillion yuan, up 9% YoY; aggregate social financing increased by a cumulative 9.6 trillion yuan in the first two months, 316.2 billion yuan more than in the same period last year; new yuan loans totaled 5.61 trillion yuan in the first two months; the balance of domestic and foreign currency deposits stood at 345.72 trillion yuan, up 8.8% YoY; and at month-end, the balance of yuan deposits stood at 337.94 trillion yuan, up 8.7% YoY.

SMM Nickel News, March 16: Macro and Market News: (1) The financial statistics report for February released by the central bank showed that at month-end February, broad money (M2) balance stood at 349.22 trillion yuan, up 9% YoY; cumulative aggregate social financing for the first two months was 9.6 trillion yuan, 316.2 billion yuan more than the same period last year; new RMB loans in the first two months increased by 5.61 trillion yuan; the balance of domestic and foreign currency deposits was 345.72 trillion yuan, up 8.8% YoY; and the month-end RMB deposit balance was 337.94 trillion yuan, up 8.7% YoY. (2) The central bank said in its tender announcement for open-market outright reverse repo operations that on March 16, 2026, the People's Bank of China will conduct 500 billion yuan of outright reverse repo operations through a fixed-quantity, interest-rate bidding, and multiple-price allocation method, with a tenor of six months (182 days). Spot Market: On March 16, the SMM #1 refined nickel price fell by 2,650 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Spot premiums: Jinchuan #1 refined nickel averaged 6,700 yuan/mt, up 50 yuan/mt from the previous trading day; China mainstream branded electrodeposited nickel was at -300-400 yuan/mt. Futures Market: The most-traded SHFE nickel contract (2605) fell sharply intraday and closed the morning session at 135,990 yuan/mt, down 1.83%. Tensions in the Middle East pushed up oil prices, intensifying inflation concerns. The market expects the US Fed may slow the pace of interest rate cuts, while the US dollar continued to strengthen, creating clear pressure on nickel prices. Despite significant macro pressure, the industry-level support logic has not changed, and market concerns over tightening supply of nickel intermediate products remain. Short term, the most-traded SHFE nickel contract is expected to move sideways in the 135,000-145,000 yuan/mt range.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that in January-February, China’s real estate development investment totaled 961.2 billion yuan, down 11.1% YoY, with the decline narrowing by 6.1 percentage points from the full-year level of the previous year; of which, residential investment was 728.2 billion yuan, down 10.7%, with the decline narrowing by 5.6 percentage points. In January-February, the floor space of buildings under construction by real estate development enterprises nationwide was 5.3537 billion m², down 11.7% YoY. Of this total, residential floor space under construction was 3.7135 billion m², down 11.9%. The floor space of buildings newly started was 50.84 million m², down 23.1%. Of this total, residential floor space newly started was 36.95 million m², down 23.3%. The floor space of buildings completed was 63.2 million m², down 27.9%. Of this total, residential floor space completed was 46.25 million m², down 26.9%. I. Completion of Real Estate Development Investment In January-February, China’s real estate development investment totaled 961.2 billion yuan, down 11.1% YoY (calculated on a comparable basis; see Note 5 for details), with the decline narrowing by 6.1 percentage points from the full-year level of the previous year; of which, residential investment was 728.2 billion yuan, down 10.7%, with the decline narrowing by 5.6 percentage points. In January-February, the floor space of buildings under construction by real estate development enterprises was 5.3537 billion m², down 11.7% YoY. Of this total, residential floor space under construction was 3.7135 billion m², down 11.9%. The floor space of buildings newly started was 50.84 million m², down 23.1%. Of this total, residential floor space newly started was 36.95 million m², down 23.3%. The floor space of buildings completed was 63.2 million m², down 27.9%. Of this total, residential floor space completed was 46.25 million m², down 26.9%. II. Sales of Newly Built Commercial Buildings and Pending Sale Status In January-February, the floor space of newly built commercial buildings sold was 92.93 million m², down 13.5% YoY, with the decline widening by 4.8 percentage points from the full-year level of the previous year; of which, residential sales floor space fell 15.9%. Sales of newly built commercial buildings amounted to 818.6 billion yuan, down 20.2%, with the decline widening by 7.6 percentage points; of which, residential sales value fell 21.8%. At month-end February, the floor space of commercial buildings pending sale was 799.98 million m², up 0.1% YoY, with the growth rate pulling back by 1.5 percentage points from year-end 2025. Of this total, the floor space pending sale for less than three years was 606.16 million m², down 1.6%. III. Funding Sources of Real Estate Development Enterprises In January-February, funds in place for real estate development enterprises totaled 1,304.7 billion yuan, down 16.5% YoY. Of this total, China domestic loans stood at 257 billion yuan, down 13.9%; self-raised funds were 493.9 billion yuan, down 5.9%; deposits and advance receipts were 358.9 billion yuan, down 21.5%; and individual mortgage loans were 112.8 billion yuan, down 41.9%.