SMM, May 29: Following the State Council's release of the Urban Renewal 15th Five-Year Plan, the real estate industry received new policy catalysts. On May 29, the real estate development sector rose accordingly, with the market optimistic about incremental investment opportunities in areas such as urban village renovation, old residential community upgrades, and municipal infrastructure construction following the plan's implementation. As of the close on May 29, the real estate development sector gained 0.68%, and real estate services rose 0.26%. In terms of individual stocks, Fuxing Co., Sunshine Co., Tianjian Group, Xiangjiang Holdings, Everbright Jiabao, and several others hit the daily limit, while Vanke A, Financial Street, Tefа Services, and China Merchants Shekou led the gains. News [State Council Releases Urban Renewal 15th Five-Year Plan: City-Specific Policies to Increase Supply of Upgraded Housing and Regulate Development of Housing Rental Market] The State Council released the Urban Renewal 15th Five-Year Plan. The plan proposes to comprehensively assess the base of existing urban asset resources, promote classified disposal of land that has been allocated but not yet developed and projects under construction, and revitalize idle and underutilized old factory buildings, commercial and office properties, commodity housing, and public housing. It is expected to accelerate the construction of a new model for real estate development and improve fundamental systems for commodity housing development, financing, and sales. The plan calls for optimizing the supply of affordable housing, strengthening housing security for low-income urban households with housing difficulties, better meeting the basic housing needs of working-class groups facing housing difficulties with modest incomes, and gradually addressing the transitional housing difficulties of new urban residents, young people, and other groups. City-specific policies are expected to increase the supply of upgraded housing and regulate the development of the housing rental market. The plan encourages real estate development enterprises to transform and participate in urban renewal. It is expected to deepen the reform of the housing provident fund system, expand its scope of use, strive to meet the diversified housing needs of contributors at different stages, and support flexible employment workers in participating in the housing provident fund system. The plan also aims to strengthen and regulate the management of existing urban infrastructure assets. [Huang Guanglie, Deputy Secretary General of Guangzhou Municipal Government: Confident in Further Consolidating the Stabilizing and Improving Trend of Guangzhou's Property Market] On May 26, Guangzhou held a press conference on the supporting documents for the Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market. Huang Guanglie, Deputy Secretary General of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, stated that going forward, Guangzhou will continue to improve the two major systems of the housing market and housing security, and continuously optimize property market regulation measures. The Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, the Municipal Bureau of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Municipal Provident Fund Center, and other departments have issued supporting rules on matters such as land supply, special subsidies for "sell old, buy new," and "commercial-to-provident fund loan conversion." Huadu District responded swiftly by launching eight specific measures. State-owned enterprises represented by Guangzhou Anju Group are accelerating the launch of pilot work on the acquisition and revitalization of second-hand housing. We believe that as these detailed rules are fully implemented and all sectors advance in coordination, we are confident in further consolidating the stabilizing and improving trend of Guangzhou's property market. (Jin10 Data APP) [Guangzhou's Real Estate Market Activity Has Been Continuously Rising Since May] On May 26, Guangzhou held a press conference on the series of supporting documents for the "Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting the Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market." Huang Guanglie, Deputy Secretary General of the Guangzhou Municipal Government, noted that on April 30, Guangzhou issued the "Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting the Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market" (known as the "Sui Eight Measures"). As the policy effects continued to release, market activity kept rising. Since May, weekly visits, subscriptions, and online signings at key new residential projects citywide increased by 26.9%, 36.9%, and 11.4% WoW, respectively; weekly signing volume of pre-owned residential properties rose 9.3% WoW, while new listing volume decreased 16.7% YoY. The new housing provident fund policy took effect, with 4,484 loan applications accepted totaling 4.746 billion yuan, up 47.05% and 56.43% YoY, respectively. [Guangzhou: Removing Restrictions on "Only Housing in the City" and Number of Provident Fund Loan Uses] On May 26, 2026, the Guangzhou Housing Provident Fund Management Center issued the normative document "Measures for Converting Commercial Personal Housing Loans to Housing Provident Fund Personal Housing Loans in Guangzhou (Interim)." It proposed expanding the scope of commercial loan banks by removing the restriction that "the original commercial loan bank must be a housing provident fund entrusted bank," allowing commercial loans from non-housing provident fund handling banks to be converted into pure housing provident fund loans. Requirements on loan types, terms, and provident fund contribution periods were relaxed. For commercial-to-provident-fund conversion handled by housing provident fund loan handling banks, applicants whose convertible provident fund loan amount is not enough to fully repay the original commercial loan principal and interest may choose to convert to a combined loan. The requirement for account opening and cumulative housing provident fund contribution period was reduced from "60 months" to "36 months." The original commercial loan disbursement period was shortened from "more than 3 years" to "more than 2 years." Restrictions on "only housing in the city" and the number of provident fund loan uses were removed, no longer requiring that "the mortgaged property is the applicant's family's only housing in the city," supporting applications for first and second improved housing. Applicants who "have never used or have used housing provident fund loans only once" may also apply for commercial-to-provident-fund conversion, free from the restriction of "never having used housing provident fund loans." (Jin10 Data) [Xiong'an New Area: Maximum Housing Provident Fund Loan Amount Raised to 800,000 Yuan] Notice of the Xiong'an New Area Housing Management Center on Optimizing and Adjusting Housing Provident Fund Withdrawal and Loan Policies. The policy stipulates that for depositors meeting the New Area's rental housing withdrawal conditions, those who have not registered a housing lease contract may withdraw up to 17,000 yuan per year; those who have registered a housing lease contract on the "Hebei Xiong'an New Area Housing Rental Information Service Platform" may withdraw up to 25,000 yuan per year. Depositors purchasing owner-occupied housing in the New Area and applying for housing provident fund loans may borrow up to 800,000 yuan. Employees of Beijing-sourced relocated units whose housing provident fund deposit location is in the New Area may borrow up to 1.2 million yuan when purchasing owner-occupied housing in the New Area and applying for housing provident fund loans. Families with two or more children purchasing owner-occupied housing in the New Area and applying for housing provident fund loans may have their maximum loan amount increased by 200,000 yuan. For employee families who have only one housing provident fund loan record nationwide that has been fully repaid and own no property in the New Area, the first-home housing provident fund loan policy shall apply. (Xiong'an Provident Fund) [Supreme Court's Liu Guixiang: Preventing and Resolving Risks in Key Areas Such as Finance and Real Estate] On May 27, Liu Guixiang, Vice-Ministerial-Level Full-Time Member of the Adjudication Committee and Second-Grade Grand Justice of the Supreme People's Court, stated at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office that the people's courts will fully safeguard national security and social stability, punish criminal acts that endanger national security, public safety, and undermine the socialist market economic order in accordance with the law, and adhere to market-oriented and rule-of-law principles to coordinate administrative, civil, and criminal adjudication functions to prevent and resolve risks in key areas such as finance and real estate. [China Index Academy: Property Developers' Bond Financing in April Up Nearly 30% YoY] The latest data released by the China Index Academy showed that in April, total bond financing in the real estate sector reached 61.48 billion yuan, up 28.8% YoY and up 18.5% MoM. Specifically, credit bond financing in the real estate sector totaled 37.48 billion yuan (up 2.6% YoY, down 9.1% MoM), accounting for 61%; ex-China bond financing was 3.43 billion yuan, accounting for 5.6%; ABS financing was 20.57 billion yuan (up 83.9% YoY, up 93.1% MoM), accounting for 33.5%. [Marco Polo: Q2 Sales Improved QoQ] Marco Polo stated at a recent earnings briefing that in Q1 2026, affected by the late Chinese New Year holiday and slow market activation, the industry overall declined YoY to some extent. Since Q2, the real estate market in some cities has shown structural stabilization and recovery, with new home markets broadly stopping falling, and second-hand housing prices in core cities such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Hangzhou beginning to rise with active transactions. The company adopted multiple measures, including building regional empowerment centers, promoting the sinking of its dealer network, expanding non-residential project business, and strengthening cooperation with whole-house decoration enterprises, resulting in a QoQ improvement in sales in Q2. [Guangzhou Anju Group to Launch Pilot Work Supporting Residents in "Selling Old and Buying New"] On May 26, Guangzhou held a press conference on the series of supporting documents for the "Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting the Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market." Qian Zhe, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and General Manager of Guangzhou Anju Group, stated that to support residents in improving their housing conditions and facilitate the exchange chain between pre-owned and new housing, Anju Group will immediately launch pilot work supporting residents in "selling old and buying new," with a trial period ending on December 31, 2026. Following the principle of "government guidance, market-based operation, and voluntary participation," the group will acquire pre-owned residential properties through market-oriented approaches. The pilot acquisition targets pre-owned residential properties within Guangzhou's Ring Expressway, with a total price of no more than 3 million yuan, a floor area of less than 70 m², and no restriction on building age. The acquired old properties will be prioritized for use as affordable housing, talent apartments, and other purposes, primarily serving the housing needs of new urban residents, young people, and other groups, as well as resident relocation for urban self-renewal projects. [Guangzhou Huadu District Sees "Rising Volume, Stable Prices, and Active Transactions" After New Policy Implementation] On May 26, Guangzhou held a press conference on the series of supporting documents for the "Implementation Opinions on Further Promoting the Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market." Mai Shaoming, Deputy District Head of Huadu District, Guangzhou, stated that after the implementation of the "Eight Measures for Guangzhou," Huadu District took the lead in the city to introduce the "Eight Measures for Huadu." Since the new policy took effect, the real estate market in Huadu District has seen a sustained rebound in market activity and a continuous release of transaction vitality. Project visits, subscriptions, policy inquiries, and pre-owned housing market transactions all surged significantly. Policy inquiries focused on core topics such as pre-sale school enrollment eligibility, online contract-based school enrollment, and trade-in policy subsidies. The overall market demonstrated a positive trend of "rising volume, stable prices, and active transactions." [Xiamen Introduces Six Housing Provident Fund Measures: "Sell Old, Buy New" Loans to Be Executed at First-Home Interest Rates] On May 19, the Xiamen Housing Provident Fund Center announced on its website that, in order to implement the spirit of the "Several Opinions on Further Promoting the Stable Development of the Real Estate Market" issued by the Fujian Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, and in light of Xiamen's actual conditions, the city introduced six housing provident fund measures upon approval by the Xiamen Housing Provident Fund Management Committee. Among them, it was proposed that "sell old, buy new" loans be executed at first-home interest rates. If a depositor sells a self-owned property within Fujian Province and purchases a second self-occupied property in Xiamen within 12 months, and applies for a housing provident fund loan that meets the lending conditions, the loan will be executed at the first-home housing provident fund loan interest rate. Housing provident fund loans for multi-child families are executed at first-home loan interest rates. For multi-child families purchasing a second owner-occupied home in the city and applying for housing provident fund loans, those meeting the provident fund loan conditions will have loans executed at first-home housing provident fund loan interest rates. [Hunan Issued Policies to Support Acquisition of Existing Commercial Housing and Housing "Trade-in"] On May 13, the Hunan Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, together with nine departments including the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the Provincial Department of Finance, issued the "Several Measures of Hunan Province to Further Promote Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market." This "New Xiang Ten Measures" is an optimization and upgrade based on the 2025 "Several Measures of Hunan Province to Promote Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market," focusing on formulating relevant support measures in areas such as acquisition of existing commercial housing, housing "trade-in," "quality housing" construction, "three-in-one" housing projects, and provident fund policy optimization. The "New Xiang Ten Measures" specified that for loans applied for purchasing newly-built commercial housing within the province (including housing provident fund loans and commercial loans), housing unit counts are determined at the county/city/district (park) level; for those already owning housing in the county/city/district (park) where the intended purchase is located, one housing unit is deducted from the count; the minimum down payment ratio of 30% for commercial property loans is implemented. [Hunan: College Graduates and High-level Talents Staying in or Coming to Hunan for Employment and Entrepreneurship Can Apply for Loans After 1 Month of Provident Fund Contributions] On May 13, the Hunan Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and eight other departments issued the "Several Measures of Hunan Province to Further Promote Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market." The "New Xiang Ten Measures" proposed that for college graduates, young talents, and high-level talents staying in or coming to Hunan who apply for housing provident fund loans for their first home purchase within the province, they can apply after only 1 month of contributions, with maximum preferential down payment ratios, and the maximum loan amount may not be linked to account balances but reasonably determined based on work compensation base and labor (employment) contract duration. Among them, the maximum housing provident fund loan amount for high-level talents can be relaxed to 4 times the standard, and for college graduates and young talents staying in or coming to Hunan for employment and entrepreneurship, it can be relaxed to 2 times. For first-marriage and first-birth families and families with two or more children using housing provident fund loans to purchase newly-built commercial housing, the loan amount cap is further increased by more than 30%. The age limit for housing provident fund personal loans is extended, with a maximum of 5 years added beyond the statutory retirement age. [A Residential Land Parcel in Nanchang Sold at 12.5% Premium] On May 8, Nanchang sold a residential land parcel with a transfer area of 12.1409 mu and a planned building area of 9,712.72 sqm, with a floor area ratio of 1.1. The starting land price was 4 million yuan/mu, totaling a starting price of 48.56 million yuan, with a starting floor price of 5,000 yuan/sqm. Ultimately, Yingtan Wanjing Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. won the land parcel at a land price of 4.5 million yuan per mu, equivalent to a total price of 54.63 million yuan, with a transaction floor price of 5,625 yuan/㎡ and a premium rate of 12.5%. [Beijing Real Estate Market Activity Climbs, Pre-owned Home Trading Volume Hits Nearly 5-Year High] During this year's Labour Day holiday, as new real estate policies were intensively rolled out in multiple cities, real estate market activity climbed. In Beijing, the pre-owned housing market continued the momentum since April, with trading volume and showing volume rising steadily. The latest data showed that during the first four days of the Labour Day holiday, the number of pre-owned home transactions in Beijing surged 72% YoY, indicating strong market performance. In April, which just ended, Beijing's pre-owned home trading volume reached nearly 18,000 units, hitting the highest level for the same period in nearly five years. [Guangzhou Labour Day Holiday New Residential Subscription Volume Up Over 50% YoY] On May 6, it was learned from the Guangzhou Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau that during the Labour Day holiday, Guangzhou's real estate market activity rebounded significantly, with both new and pre-owned residential markets improving in tandem and a clear recovery trend in the property market. Data showed that from May 1 to 5, the new residential market in Guangzhou heated up notably, with a citywide daily average of 8,692 visits to new residential projects (up 30.8% YoY) and a daily average subscription volume of 634 units (up 50.1% YoY). The pre-owned residential market maintained steady growth. During the holiday, daily average showings and daily average subscription volume grew 15.6% and 5.2% respectively compared with April, while subscription volume was up 63.4% YoY. Meanwhile, new listing volume of pre-owned homes pulled back somewhat. A spokesperson from the Guangzhou Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau stated that on April 30, Guangzhou issued implementation guidelines on further promoting stable and healthy development of the real estate market, proposing multiple measures covering areas such as optimizing housing provident fund usage and facilitating property swap chains. The policy dividends were quickly transmitted, and market response was evident. [Zhongshan, Guangdong: Pre-owned Housing Acquired by Developers Can Be Resold; Minimum Down Payment for Commercial Property Loans Set at 30%] The Zhongshan Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau of Guangdong Province issued the "Several Measures for Continuously Promoting Stable and Healthy Development of the Real Estate Market in Zhongshan" to further implement the digestion of existing housing inventory and optimize incremental housing supply, and to better meet residents' essential and upgrading housing needs. The "Several Measures" comprised seven articles, including continuing to support residential housing trade-in policies; encouraging market-oriented operation of commodity housing trade-in programs; increasing housing provident fund support for home purchases; optimizing the criteria for determining the number of housing units under provident fund loans; accelerating destocking of commercial properties and encouraging multiple approaches to revitalize existing resources; increasing financial support and lowering the minimum down payment ratio for commercial property purchase loans; and piloting housing voucher-based resettlement compensation. Among them, the Several Measures stipulate that repurchased old housing can be resold, renovated and then sold, or used for market-oriented rental housing, talent apartments, affordable rental housing, etc. The minimum down payment ratio for commercial property purchase loans was adjusted to no less than 30%. [China Real Estate News: Stabilizing the Property Market Requires Good "Forward Planning"] On May 4, China Real Estate News published an editorial stating that amid complex and volatile internal and external shocks, the property market's performance since the beginning of this year was hard-won, and will lay a solid foundation and inject firm confidence for efforts to stabilize the real estate market. Therefore, the upcoming months of May and June are crucial, and localities should continue to do good "forward planning." The more detailed and thorough the work on "forward planning" for stabilizing the real estate market, the more solid the foundation for market stability. The stability and vitality of the property market should be reflected in the transformation of "good housing" toward higher quality, and the innovation momentum of "good housing" should be further released and continuously expanded. The stability and vitality of the property market should also be reflected in the overall satisfaction of demand, and the housing replacement cycle should be further facilitated. The core value of the housing trade-in policy lies in breaking this deadlock through institutional innovation. Localities should build bridges between old housing disposal and new housing purchase through government guidance, state-owned enterprise participation, and market-based operations, both facilitating the replacement process and reassuring buyers of price stability. Meanwhile, financial support will be increased for converting existing commercial housing into affordable housing, resettlement housing, dormitories, and talent housing. This will provide stable absorption channels for inventory to accelerate market clearing, effectively broaden the supply sources of affordable housing, shorten construction cycles, and address the housing difficulties of key groups such as low- and middle-income groups, new urban residents, and young people at relatively low social costs, forming an overall favorable landscape where new housing is well managed, second-hand housing is active, and the high-end has a market, the mid-end has support, and the low-end has guarantees, building momentum for real estate market stability and high-quality development. [Suzhou: Raising Maximum Housing Provident Fund Loan Limits, with Individual Maximum Loan Amount Adjusted to 1.5 Million Yuan] Suzhou recently issued several measures to further promote stable and healthy development of the real estate market. Among them, it mentioned optimizing the criteria for determining the number of provident fund loans and housing units, with first-home provident fund loan policies applied when applicants have no outstanding provident fund loan balance nationwide. The maximum provident fund loan limits were raised, with the individual maximum loan amount adjusted to 1.5 million yuan and the family maximum loan amount adjusted to 2 million yuan. For purchases of newly built green residential buildings rated two-star or above, the provident fund loan amount can be increased by 20%; for purchases of newly built "dual-smart and fully-equipped" improved housing, the provident fund loan amount can be increased by 50%. For purchases of newly built commercial housing projects sold as completed properties, the provident fund loan amount can be increased by 50%. Provident fund loans can be applied for when purchasing completed property-right apartments. [Wuhan Announces New Property Market Policies, Expanding the Scope of Cross-City Housing Provident Fund Loans] On April 30, the Wuhan Housing and Urban Renewal Bureau, Wuhan Municipal Finance Bureau, and Wuhan Housing Provident Fund Management Center issued the Notice on Further Optimizing and Improving the City's Real Estate Policy Measures. The notice proposed that from May 1 to December 31, 2026, when resident families apply for commercial personal housing loans to purchase newly built commercial housing, if family members have no complete housing units in the district where the intended new commercial housing is located, the purchase will be recognized as the family's first home. Employees contributing to provident funds in cities nationwide who purchase self-owned housing in Wuhan or have outstanding commercial housing loans may apply for housing provident fund loans from the Wuhan Provident Fund Center, with the restriction requiring borrowers (including spouses) to hold Wuhan household registration removed. [Zhanjiang Optimizes Property Market Policies: Housing Purchase Subsidies and Provident Fund Loan Limits Increased] According to the Zhanjiang Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau, to adapt to the new situation in the real estate market, Zhanjiang introduced the "Zhanjiang Seven Measures" policy aimed at promoting housing absorption and optimizing supply. The policies include raising housing provident fund loan limits, with the maximum loan amount for homebuyers reaching 1.2 million yuan, and military families eligible for an additional 200,000 yuan in loans; implementing housing purchase subsidies, with buyers eligible for subsidies of up to 20,000 yuan. The policies also cover reducing real estate enterprises' operating costs, optimizing residential design, streamlining approval processes, and supporting the sound development of the real estate industry and urban construction. The policies take effect immediately and are valid for three years. [Tianjin Optimizes Real Estate Supply to Promote Housing Consumption] Tianjin issued a notice on optimizing the city's real estate supply to promote housing consumption. It mentioned using special bond funds to reclaim and repurchase existing idle land. Enterprises are supported in advancing the continued development of real estate projects through reasonable optimization of design requirements and other means. Business entities that repurchase existing commercial housing for use as rental housing may enjoy preferential tax policies related to housing rental if they meet the conditions. For cases where existing commercial housing is certified as being converted into allocation-based affordable rental housing, the land use nature will not be changed within the original land use period, no supplementary land price will be required, and preferential pricing policies for water, electricity, gas, and heating will be enjoyed in accordance with national and municipal regulations. The national tax policy supporting residents' housing replacement purchases is implemented. From January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, taxpayers who sell self-owned housing within Tianjin and repurchase housing in Tianjin within one year after the sale of their current housing will be eligible for a refund of the individual income tax already paid on the sale of their current housing. [Shenzhen Municipal Housing and Construction Bureau Issues Notice on Further Optimizing and Adjusting the City's Real Estate-Related Policies] On April 29, the Shenzhen Municipal Housing and Construction Bureau issued a notice to further optimize real estate regulatory policies. Regarding purchase restrictions, eligible resident families may purchase one additional housing unit within the areas of Futian, Nanshan, and Xin'an Sub-district in Bao'an; non-Shenzhen-registered families holding valid residence permits may also purchase one unit in the above areas. Regarding provident funds, the maximum family loan amount was raised to 1.3 million yuan, with first-home buyers and multi-child families eligible for a maximum increase of 70%. The new policy takes effect from May 29. [Zhuhai Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau and Five Other Departments Optimize and Adjust the City's Real Estate Policy Measures] The Zhuhai Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau and five other departments issued a notice on optimizing and adjusting the city's real estate policy measures. The notice proposed optimizing housing provident fund loan policies. First, raising housing provident fund loan limits. For those eligible for provident fund loans, the maximum housing provident fund personal housing loan amounts for single- and dual-contributor employee families were adjusted from 800,000 yuan to 1 million yuan and from 1.3 million yuan to 1.5 million yuan, respectively. Second, expanding the scope of housing purchase support for multi-child families. When multi-child families apply for provident fund loans to purchase a second self-occupied housing unit, the loan amount may be increased by 20% above the eligible loan amount, but shall not exceed the city's maximum provident fund loan limit. Third, raising the loan amount increase ratio for purchasing green buildings. When contributing employees purchase commercial housing that meets the national two-star green building standard or commercial housing in certified prefabricated building projects, the loan amount may be increased by 20% above the eligible loan amount, but shall not exceed the city's maximum provident fund loan limit; for purchases of commercial housing meeting the national three-star green building standard, the loan amount may be increased by 30% above the eligible loan amount, but shall not exceed the city's maximum provident fund loan limit. [Foshan Launches Commercial Housing "Trade-in" Program! First Batch Involves 22 Projects] Recently, the Notice of the Foshan Municipal Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau on Organizing the First Batch of Commercial Housing "Trade-in" Program was officially released. This is not a simple encouragement document; it is a solution that systematically unblocks replacement bottlenecks through model innovation and a policy package. It promotes the real estate market's transition from "one-sided transactions" to a "virtuous cycle between existing and incremental housing," achieving multi-party wins for residents, enterprises, and the market. The innovation of Foshan's trade-in policy lies in introducing multiple real estate enterprises to participate jointly: Foshan Anju, Chancheng Anju, Nanhai Youju, Shunde Chengtie, Gaoming Airport Construction, and Sanshui Anju serve as repurchasing entities; Foshan Chengfa, Foshan Urban Renewal, Foshan Lianzhi, Heyue Yaji, Shunkong Chengtou, Yongdeli Commerce, Sanshui Chanfa, and Miaohui Real Estate provide new housing sources. This model determines old housing value through negotiation and sets a "contract termination protection period" to avoid blindly pushing for lower prices, thereby completing the "sell old, buy new" closed loop and serving as a market stabilizer. Voices from Various Parties BOC International Securities believes the real estate industry is at an important window where fundamentals and market expectations are resonating in recovery. Current policies continue to exert force, with first-tier cities optimizing purchase and loan restrictions and core cities optimizing provident fund policies, all of which have had a certain effect on releasing genuine housing demand, with some first-tier city property markets seeing a sustained two-month recovery. In the short term, the window of resonance between policy and high-frequency transaction improvement remains, and it is necessary to track whether the subsequent transaction recovery trend can continue, which will depend on inventory destocking progress and whether prices stabilize. From an investment perspective, most real estate enterprises made relatively large impairment provisions in 2025, and may consolidate at lows in 2026, so sector profit margins and performance may rebound in 2027, potentially leading to improved market valuations for 27E in Q4 this year. In addition, some commercial property holding companies have already positioned themselves ahead in new business formats, new models, and new scenarios, and are better positioned to seize opportunities in the new consumption era. A China Post Securities research report shows that in the phase where policy and high-frequency transactions are "resonating but not fully," the industry's β remains constrained by the verification progress of "destocking and price stabilization." The pattern of second-hand housing recovering first while new housing lags continues, and capital in the secondary market continues to favor assets with α characteristics (those deeply rooted in core cities, with precise land acquisition, and strong product and operational capabilities). Although there is policy support and improvement in the second-hand housing chain in core cities, land and new construction starts remain weak, and fluctuations in net financing suggest that industry clearing has not concluded, and β rallies remain susceptible to data disturbances. Against this backdrop, China Post Securities recommends focusing on China Resources Land, China Overseas Land & Investment, China Jinmao, Poly Property and China Merchants Shekou. Huayuan Securities' research report believes that in 2026, three major trends are worth anticipating: 1) The real estate adjustment is expected to near its end: reviewing real estate crises in major global economies, the average decline was 35% with an average adjustment period of 6 years, and the length and depth of China's actual housing price adjustment have already been relatively sufficient. 2) Structural opportunities in "good housing": China's real estate market has entered a phase of structural differentiation, with the central government frequently mentioning the construction of good housing. Under the catalyst of policy orientation and changes in supply-demand structure, high-grade residential properties may usher in a development wave. 3) Hong Kong property market recovery continues: driven by multiple favorable factors, market sentiment in Hong Kong's private residential market has gradually recovered, and they believe Hong Kong-based developers are expected to see a new round of value re-rating. They maintain a "bullish" rating on real estate. A CITIC Securities research report stated that in April, the floor space of commercial buildings sold nationwide fell 9.5% YoY, with the decline widening 2.1 percentage points from March; sales revenue fell 7.6% YoY, with the decline narrowing 5.7 percentage points from March. New and second-hand housing prices continued to adjust. In April, the MoM decline in the price indices of newly built commercial residential housing and second-hand residential housing across 70 large and medium-sized cities nationwide remained flat MoM. Second-hand housing prices in first-tier cities all rose, with second-hand residential prices in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou up 0.7%, 0.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2% MoM, respectively. First-tier city property markets continued to recover, and the real estate market is gradually stopping its decline and stabilizing. They are bullish on Hong Kong, commercial properties, and quality enterprises focused on core city tracks.

As China's new energy industry develops rapidly and the dual-carbon strategy continues to be implemented, hydrogen energy has become a core track driving the green transformation and high-quality upgrading of the automotive industry. On May 20, Dongfeng Motor held the "Hydrogen Rises with Dongfeng · Leading the Future" Hydrogen Energy Durability Technology and T1 Commercial Vehicle New Energy Platform Launch Conference in Wuhan, unveiling multiple significant hydrogen energy technology achievements and setting new technical standards for China's hydrogen commercial vehicles with its hardcore independent R&D capabilities. The biggest technical highlight of this launch was Dongfeng Motor's independently developed 400kW hydrogen fuel cell stack , which successfully passed the new national standard 10,000-hour durability verification, with an average single-cell voltage degradation rate of only 3.29%, demonstrating outstanding durability performance. This product became the first metal bipolar plate stack in China to obtain the authoritative "HyTA Durability Star" certification, filling the gap in 10,000-hour durability certification for large power metal bipolar plate stacks in China. The simultaneously unveiled T1 Commercial Vehicle New Energy Platform completely upgrades the hydrogen heavy truck operation experience, featuring core advantages including multi-scenario adaptability, high efficiency and energy saving, convenient refueling, and safety and reliability, laying a solid foundation for the large-scale and commercial popularization of hydrogen commercial vehicles. Yang Yanding, General Manager of Dongfeng Motor's Strategic Planning Department (Brand Management Department) and Party Secretary of the R&D General Institute, stated at the conference that the enterprise, leveraging the "Rising Eastern Wind 2030" strategy released at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show, is implementing the "Sky-Clean Zero-Carbon" development plan, establishing hydrogen energy as a core strategic track, adhering to independent technology R&D and industrial self-reliance, and proactively shouldering the industry responsibility for green and low-carbon transformation of the automotive industry. Going forward, Dongfeng Motor plans to leverage the Hydrogen Energy Industry Innovation Alliance to collaborate with government agencies, upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry chain, research institutes, and scenario application parties to co-build a new hydrogen energy industry ecosystem featuring collaborative innovation, resource sharing, and scenario sharing. Fuel cell durability is the core key determining whether hydrogen energy products can transition from demonstration pilots to large-scale commercial use, and has long been a core pain point constraining industry development. To break through the durability technology bottleneck, Dongfeng's R&D team independently built the "2-3-3" durability technology system , constructing a comprehensive and systematic stack durability assurance system from three major dimensions: core material optimization, extreme operating condition adaptation, and full-cycle aging control, enabling hydrogen power core components to handle various complex road conditions and extreme operating conditions including severe cold, extreme heat, bumps, heavy loads, and hill climbing, significantly improving equipment operational stability and service life. In terms of core material upgrades, Dongfeng Motor innovatively adopted high-durability catalysts combined with anti-corrosion conductive dual-coating technology, fundamentally solving common problems such as aging and corrosion of stack core components, significantly improving parts durability and stability, with overall durability performance far exceeding national industry standards. For the complex operating conditions faced in long-haul commercial vehicle transportation such as dry-wet alternation, high-frequency vibration, and heavy-load hill climbing, the enterprise equipped three major protective technologies to comprehensively safeguard stable stack operation. Among them, membrane electrode stress control technology prevents core component stress damage; integrated vibration-resistant packaging technology secures internal parts, eliminating loosening and air leakage issues; the intelligent water-thermal management system dynamically adjusts internal water volume and temperature, effectively preventing equipment overheating and freezing faults, adapting to various extreme scenarios including deserts, plateaus, and icy conditions. In terms of aging control, the equipment is equipped with high-precision stacking technology to ensure highly uniform voltage output of individual cells within the stack. It is also configured with an online rapid activation system and AI life prediction model, enabling real-time monitoring of stack operating status and intelligent health assessment, precisely predicting equipment maintenance cycles, achieving intelligent operation and maintenance management, and significantly reducing later operational failure risks. With comprehensive technological support, Dongfeng's 400kW fuel cell platform successfully obtained dual authoritative certifications from the HyTA Hydrogen Marathon, with its technical capabilities officially recognized by the industry. Currently, Dongfeng Motor has completed construction of a full-chain independent hydrogen energy technology system covering core materials, key parts, system integration, and complete vehicle implementation, creating three major power stack platforms at 70kW, 150kW, and 400kW, fully covering hydrogen demand across all scenarios from 20kW to 400kW. Among them, the 400kW fuel cell system custom-designed for 49 mt heavy-duty hydrogen trucks can achieve ultra-low temperature cold start at -40°C , with a designed equipment lifespan of up to 30,000 hours, and was successfully selected as a Hubei Province 61020 landmark product, combining technological advancement with practical applicability. The newly launched T1 Commercial Vehicle New Energy Platform focuses on the core needs of logistics industry users, optimizing and upgrading around four core pain points—energy consumption, vehicle weight, refueling, and safety—to create a "versatile, fast, reliable, and economical" new commercial hydrogen experience, providing quality solutions for the green and low-carbon transformation of long-haul logistics. In terms of energy consumption costs, the product underwent real-world testing across mountain and plain road conditions, achieving hydrogen consumption as low as 7 kg per 100 km, effectively reducing long-haul freight operating costs. In terms of auto body weight, the 49 mt hydrogen tractor weighs only 8.8 mt, basically flat with traditional gas-powered vehicles and outperforming most similar new energy car models on the market, helping users increase cargo capacity and reduce operational losses. In terms of refueling and safety, the platform car models require only 15 minutes for hydrogen refueling, with a single-charge driving range of up to 1,700 km, completely eliminating refueling anxiety for long-haul freight. It is also equipped with an intelligent distributed power system and a 360-degree comprehensive safety protection system, successfully passing the European DEKRA Functional Safety C-level international high-standard certification for commercial vehicles, comprehensively ensuring safe and stable vehicle operation. Real operational data fully validates the product's hardcore capabilities. As of now, Dongfeng hydrogen vehicles have accumulated over 1 million km in demonstration operation mileage. Among them, the 49 mt hydrogen heavy trucks operating on the Wuhan-Chengdu trunk route achieved a maximum single-vehicle mileage exceeding 60,000 km, with vehicle availability consistently maintained above 95%, with on-site reliability and road condition adaptability fully verified by the market. Meanwhile, Dongfeng Motor has established a comprehensive full life cycle after-sales service system, relying on over 700 service stations nationwide, a dedicated expert team of over 200 professionals, and over 100 parts centers, complemented by 180 million yuan in dynamic parts reserves and an intelligent service platform, providing end-users with full-process, highly guaranteed operation and maintenance services. In the future, Dongfeng Motor will continue to deepen the "Sky-Clean Zero-Carbon" strategy, continuously increase R&D investment in core hydrogen energy technologies, leverage fuel cell durability technology as a core advantage, collaborate with entire industry chain partners, improve the integrated industrial layout covering hydrogen production, storage, and refueling, complete vehicle manufacturing, and scenario operations, accelerate the hydrogen energy industry's leap from demonstration operations to large-scale commercial use, empower thousands of industries with zero-carbon hydrogen energy, and help China's hydrogen energy industry reach global leading ranks.

Nickel prices were generally in the doldrums this week. The most-traded SHFE nickel contract moved sideways within the 142,000-147,000 yuan/mt range, pulling back after attempting to test resistance at overhead moving averages. The main bearish factors came from continued inventory buildup, which suppressed bullish sentiment. Wait-and-see sentiment was prevalent in the market, with no clear unidirectional driver. LME nickel prices were similarly in the doldrums within the $18,300-19,000/mt range. Spot market side, the weekly average price of SMM #1 refined nickel was 143,510 yuan/mt, up 350 yuan/mt WoW. Jinchuan nickel premiums remained at 1,000-1,400 yuan/mt this week. Domestic mainstream electrodeposited nickel premiums stayed in the -500-500 yuan/mt range, with no significant change from last week. Spot market transactions returned to a sluggish state this week, mainly because end-users had actively stockpiled during the previous sharp decline in nickel prices. With futures moving sideways this week, downstream willingness to price against futures was low, with just-in-time procurement being the dominant mode. On the macro front, Fed Chairman transition was completed this week, with new Chairman Waller officially taking office. Market expectations for US Fed interest rate cuts were pushed back to H2 2027, with the possibility of rate hikes not ruled out. Meanwhile, the 10-year US Treasury yield remained in the elevated range of approximately 4.35%-4.45% this week, and the US dollar index stayed strong, continuing to weigh on non-ferrous commodity prices. Inventory side, Shanghai Bonded Zone inventory was approximately 1,700 mt this week, flat WoW. Domestic social inventory was approximately 113,000 mt, with an inventory buildup of approximately 1,100 mt WoW. Currently, bullish and bearish forces are balanced, with continued refined nickel inventory buildup being the core factor suppressing nickel prices. In the short term, absent new catalysts, nickel prices are expected to continue moving sideways with wild swings within the 140,000-150,000 yuan/mt range.

China’s hydrogen market is showing clear divergence: alkaline electrolyzers are booming with frequent deliveries, PEM electrolyzers stay quiet, and AEM technology is quietly advancing. This “ice and fire” trend reveals competition over technical maturity and market selection. Meanwhile, breakthroughs in storage, transportation and refueling are reshaping the industry, marking a more rational and practical stage for China’s hydrogen sector. I. Alkaline Electrolyzers: Booming on Cost and Scale Alkaline electrolyzers dominate the market with surging deliveries and large-scale deployment. CRRC Zhuzhou Institute shipped 12 sets of 1200 Nm³/h alkaline electrolyzers for CHN Energy’s “Liquid Sunshine” project; CFHI delivered a 3,000 Nm³/h system; and PetroChina’s 2,000 Nm³/h unit successfully commissioned with hydrogen purity reaching 99.9995%.Sunshine Hydrogen won a 30,000 Nm³/h contract for a green methanol project, while EVE Hydrogen and Haozhen Hydrogen also completed deliveries. Driven by mature technology, low cost and a complete supply chain, alkaline electrolyzers have become the top choice for large-scale, cost-sensitive green hydrogen projects. II. PEM Electrolyzers: Silent Strategic Reserve PEM electrolyzers are largely absent from recent headlines mainly due to high costs from precious metal catalysts and proton exchange membranes. Its strength—fast response to wind and solar fluctuation—is not yet a must-have for most large projects, which prefer grid-supported alkaline systems.Yet PEM development has not stopped. Domestic firms are pushing for localization of core materials, waiting for cost declines and scenario maturity to unleash its advantages. III. AEM Electrolyzers: Laying Ground for Next-Gen Tech AEM combines the low cost of alkaline and high efficiency of PEM, seen as a promising next-generation route. It is still in pre-industrial phase, with focus on improving membrane durability and membrane electrode manufacturing. Enterprises are making steady breakthroughs in materials and processes for long-term competition. IV. Storage & Transportation: Key Breakthroughs for Scaling Large-scale gaseous hydrogen storage is moving forward: SPIC’s Da’an project plans six 1,850 m³ spherical tanks, greatly improving storage capacity.Liquid hydrogen sees a milestone: China’s first 5-ton/day hydrogen liquefaction plant started operation with 100% domestic equipment and 40% lower energy consumption, cutting costs for long-distance transport.Guofu Hydrogen built a hydrogen-natural gas blending platform supporting 0%–30% blending. SAMR launched safety standards for hydrogen refueling stations, filling gaps in liquid hydrogen refueling rules.Improved storage, transportation and standards expand the economic radius of green hydrogen and lay a foundation for large-scale application. Conclusion The divergence of hydrogen production routes reflects market choice based on technical maturity: alkaline leads for near-term economy, PEM reserves strength for flexible scenarios, and AEM targets next-generation innovation. The three routes are complementary rather than substitutive.Breakthroughs in storage and transportation are game-changers. With falling liquid hydrogen costs, better infrastructure and completed standards, the industry will enter a more diversified and dynamic era.

Published: May 19, 2026 - 10:43 PM Updated: May 19, 2026 - 10:55 PM (Kitco News) – Despite Iran war headwinds, gold prices are still on track to reach a fresh all-time high of $5,800 per ounce before year-end, while silver’s supply deficit and dual demand make it the better medium-term bet, according to Nicky Shiels, head of research and metals strategy at MKS PAMP, Shiels said in a recent interview that the Iran war has “reshaped, but not derailed” the bull case for gold, and she expects the yellow metal will ultimately gain 30% in 2026. “Gold is still expected to average $4,500/oz in 2026, with a new higher all-time high of $5,800/oz a fair target for the second half of the year,” she said. “Gold has morphed from a debasement trade into an inverse oil proxy during the current conflict, and while that correlation has weakened recently, the stagflationary backdrop comes back into play,” Shiels added. “The near-term thesis is one of consolidation, but the longer-term one reinforces the bull case for gold: fiscal dominance fears, US dollar weakness longer-term, and geopolitical risk remain in play.” In the near term, she said that “gold prices below $5000/oz are fair given current oil levels and softening physical demand into the summer, but $5000+ should be the range in 2H’26.” Looking further out, Shiels is even more bullish. She said that it is “unlikely, but possible” that gold prices will reach $10,000 per ounce by 2030. “It’s theoretically possible, as real assets continue to debase higher,” she said. “A lot would have to happen for gold prices to reach five figures, including a substantial rotation from US institutional investors out of equities.” “There are plenty of narratives explaining how one obtains big numbers, where most look at Gold through a debasement lens and adjust for what prices need to be (keeping all other inputs stable) to reach historical relative values vs the stock market, vs % of US debt, as vs % of foreign-held portion of US debt,” Shiels explained. “For example, gold’s global market cap (value of above-ground stocks) is around 20 per cent of the value of the global stock market. Historically, it can be worth 40 per cent, simply implying Gold at $10,000/oz (with no drawdown in stock market value).” She also benchmarked gold’s potential against U.S. government debt to arrive at an even more dramatic price projection. “Today’s US Gold holdings backs only 3 per cent of US government debt; back in the previous wartime era (the last debt expansion era), WWII, in which ~50 per cent of federal debt was Gold-backed; a mere 10 per cent of the US’ debt pile today equates to $15,000/oz,” Shiels said. “The value of the US’ Gold (81100 tonnes) is 14 per cent of all foreign-held US debt; the long-term average has been 50 per cent, which implies ~$18,000/oz.” She added that the scenario “remains a tail, not the base case, but it’s not an unreasonable tail.” Turning to silver, Shiels said that while gold still has the better outlook for 2026, the gray metal could outperform it in the longer term on the back of ongoing structural supply deficits. “The January high above $120/oz can absolutely be revisited, but it’s contingent on gold making new all-time highs,” she said. “Silver is still nowhere near its inflation-adjusted highs of around $200/oz (when Gold took out its 1980 inflation-adjusted high of $3600/oz back in September 2025), which requires a lot to come together (retail, institutional investment, industrial & physical flows re-engaging simultaneously).” Shiels said the Iran war has generated significant headwinds for silver, with the oil shock creating a “stagflationary backdrop” and raising fears of industrial demand destruction. “Silver, as the ‘high-beta’ precious metal, is caught between its monetary/investment and industrial identities,” she said. “Investment demand has softened while industrial demand faces macro pressure and fears over a growth slowdown.” “The core bear case [revolves around] a recession or prolonged stagflationary environment that would hit industrial demand (which accounts for over half of silver consumption) hard, particularly if the green energy buildout slows,” she explained. “That risk can overwhelm investment inflows and keep silver trapped in the lower half of its range, $50 – $70/oz.” But despite these risks to the outlook, Shiels believes silver is the precious metal with the higher upside over the longer term. “Gold has stronger institutional underpinning, resilient CB demand, clearer macro catalysts with a ramp up of stagflationary risks, and less vulnerability to an industrial demand shock,” she noted. “But silver is nowhere near its inflation-adjusted highs of around $200/oz; it faces persistent structural supply deficits where supply is slow to respond, and once both retail and institutional investment flows re-engage simultaneously, the squeeze potential is significant.” “Long-term, silver’s leverage to the hard-asset bull market is its biggest asset.” Moving to the platinum group metals, Shiels said the macro backdrop is weighing heavily on both platinum and palladium, but platinum is better positioned to launch a breakout due to ongoing supply deficits and strong hybrid vehicle demand. “January’s move in both metals reflected a genuine confluence of factors — physical tightness, tariff-driven trade re-ratings, supply disruption (particularly Russian palladium redirected away from the US), and strategic stockpiling — it wasn’t pure speculation,” she said. “However, the macro backdrop since then (oil shock, demand destruction fears, auto sector uncertainty) has weighed heavily.” “Platinum has stronger structural support — persistent multi-year deficits, growing hybrid autocatalyst demand, resilient industrial demand, steady jewellery demand, and a new investor base with the launch of futures contracts in China — so it’s better positioned to break out of the range,” she added. “Palladium is more policy-driven and heavily dependent on auto demand.” Source： https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-05-19/gold-will-hit-5800-ath-december-silver-has-highest-upside-platinum-has

After pushing to fresh highs in early May, Chinese Nickel Pig Iron prices have begun retreating as every pillar that supported the late-April surge — refined nickel, stainless margins, and scrap economics — starts to weaken simultaneously.

Recently, China’s domestic rhenium market has seen a mild price correction, with prices of raw materials and metal products weakening in tandem. In contrast, overseas rhenium prices have moved higher against the domestic trend, highlighting a clear divergence between domestic and overseas markets. At present, the industrial chain remains in an obvious price game. Upstream sellers hold a cautious shipping attitude and mainly conclude small-volume rigid-demand deals, while downstream buyers stay on the sidelines with a strong willingness to press prices and test the bottom. Overall market trading activity is sluggish, and rhenium prices are expected to move in a range-bound consolidation in the short term. Differing from the downward trend in the domestic market, the overseas rhenium market has maintained a steady upward momentum with continuous gains in overseas quotations. Currently, the overseas price of ammonium rhenate has climbed to around USD 5,300, and the overseas price of rhenium pellets has risen synchronously to USD 375 per troy ounce. Supported by relatively resilient overseas demand and tight supply circulation overseas, rhenium product prices have kept advancing. A stark contrast has formed between domestic and overseas market trends, and the price spread pattern has also changed accordingly. From the perspective of industrial chain fundamentals, the price game atmosphere in the rhenium market remains intense, presenting a two-sided pattern of cautious holding by sellers and price bottom-hunting by buyers. Domestic copper and molybdenum producers are generally prudent in shipments, holding positive expectations for future prices and reluctant to release large volumes of goods at blindly low prices. Most players adopt a strategy of small-batch and demand-based partial shipments, with overall supply release remaining restrained. Downstream metal processors and end-user enterprises hold a low-price procurement mentality. Amid the market correction, their wait-and-see sentiment has intensified, and they are unwilling to build large inventories. Buyers continue to test sellers’ room for price concessions, and purchase-on-demand has become the mainstream market pattern. Overall, the domestic rhenium market lacks major positive catalysts at this stage, leaving raw material and product prices room for weak range-bound volatility in the short term. High overseas market prices offer limited support to domestic prices. The upstream-downstream price game is unlikely to ease in the near term. Without the concentrated release of new rigid demand and price support from the raw material end, domestic rhenium prices are projected to maintain a weak range-bound trend. Market transactions will continue to be dominated by small rigid-demand orders. It is necessary to keep track of the transaction rhythm between upstream and downstream players, changes in raw material inventories, and the transmission impact of overseas price movements on the domestic market. Looking at the domestic raw material market, the price center of rhenium raw materials has moved down recently. Major domestic copper-molybdenum smelters offer rhenium products mainly at CNY 26,000–27,000 per kilogram, with most market transactions settled within this range. Meanwhile, market supply structure has become differentiated. Some small and medium-sized producers adopt low-price shipments to capital 回收，with actual transaction prices falling to CNY 24,000–25,000 per kilogram. The circulation of low-price supplies has dragged down spot market prices and further deepened the correction of raw material prices. The metallic rhenium market adjusted in line with raw material trends. Rhenium pellet prices edged down alongside raw materials, with mainstream current transaction prices standing at around CNY 46,000 per kilogram. On the whole, the metal end shows a strong correlation with raw material price movements. In the absence of major positive drivers, downstream consumption is confined to industrial rigid demand, which is insufficient to drive a steady rebound in product prices. Market quotations adjust flexibly following spot trading sentiment.

The year 2026 marks the opening year of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period. Against the backdrop of intensifying global macro volatility and the deepening advancement of high-quality development in China, the zinc industry is undergoing profound transformation: tightness on the ore side and the release of smelting capacity are creating structural tension, divergence between domestic and overseas inventories reflects the complex dynamics of supply-demand rebalancing, and technological innovation is becoming the key momentum for resolving contradictions and reshaping the landscape. Key areas under the "15th Five-Year Plan" such as new energy and new-type infrastructure are injecting new momentum into traditional zinc consumption, while green, low-carbon, and circular economy principles are accelerating the restructuring of industrial logic driven by technological innovation. With the joint support of upstream and downstream enterprises in the zinc industry, industry associations, and relevant parties, SMM is about to hold the 2026 SMM Zinc Industry Conference & the 8th Hot-Dip Galvanizing Industry Development and Technological Innovation Forum & the 14th Zinc Salt, Zinc Oxide and Zinc Secondary Resources Development Forum & the Zinc-Based Materials Development Forum on August 6-8 in Qingdao, Shandong. Themed "Converging Zinc Momentum · Building Zinc Industry · Embarking on a New Journey," the conference is driven by the dual engines of macro perspectives and fundamental analysis, closely aligned with the "15th Five-Year Plan" high-quality development mainline, focusing on four major dimensions: macro policies, supply-demand patterns, global trade, and technological innovation. It aims to drive cost reduction and efficiency improvement through technological breakthroughs, respond to market fluctuations through collaborative innovation, and jointly chart a new blueprint for high-quality and sustainable development of the zinc industry. Gansu Changba Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. will attend this grand event, discussing industry development trends with industry peers and jointly driving the zinc industry to new heights. Click the to register now, witness and participate in this significant and far-reaching industry event, and co-create a glorious new chapter! ◆ Company Overview ◆ Gansu Changba Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. is a subsidiary of Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co., Ltd., with Chengzhou Zinc Smelter and Changba Lead-Zinc Mine under its management. It is a large state-owned nonferrous metals enterprise integrating lead-zinc mining, mineral processing, smelting, and scientific research. Chengzhou Zinc Smelter currently has an annual electrolytic zinc production capacity of 100,000 mt. It is a modern smelter integrating zinc metal smelting, comprehensive utilization of resources, and R&D of new nonferrous metal smelting processes. The enterprise adheres to the development direction of "lean collaboration, digital integration, and green leadership," closely aligned with the goal of creating the ultimate quality benchmark. It has continuously made breakthroughs in improving zinc smelting quality. In 2026, the first batch of high-purity zinc ingots with a purity of 99.998% was successfully produced, injecting solid momentum into further enhancing the enterprise's core competitiveness, expanding the high-end zinc materials market, and driving high-quality development of the enterprise. The Chengzhou Zinc Smelter has always adhered to the pursuit of excellence and perfection. With the successful production of 99.998% high-purity zinc ingots as a major breakthrough, the smelter has continued to increase investment in scientific research, actively introduced advanced and applicable production technologies and equipment, focused on building a high-caliber professional and technical talent team, continuously optimized the production process for 99.997% high-purity zinc ingots, and steadily carried out technical research on even higher-purity zinc products. ◆ Honors Bestowed: Quality Certified by Authoritative Bodies ◆ The outstanding quality of the 99.998% high-purity zinc ingots has been widely recognized by authoritative institutions both within and outside the industry, with numerous prestigious awards attesting to their quality excellence: · Technology Innovation Awards: Leveraging core technological breakthroughs such as "Research and Application of Low-Impurity Electrolytic Zinc Standard Creation," the smelter won the "Second Prize of Nonferrous Metals Industry Science and Technology Award," the "First Prize of Gansu Province Science and Technology Progress Award," and the "Grand Prize of Science and Technology of CITIC Guoan Group Co., Ltd.," with its technical capabilities recognized at national, provincial, and municipal/county levels. The "R&D and Application of High-Grade Zinc Ingot Preparation Process Technology" won a Bronze Award at the 11th International Invention Exhibition "Belt and Road" and BRICS Skills Development and Technological Innovation Competition. "Full-Process Lean Management Control for Creating Excellent Zinc Ingot Quality" won the Second Prize of the 2025 Nonferrous Metals Enterprise Management Modernization Innovation Achievement Award. The smelter built Nanshi's first 5G+ digital workshop, deployed industrial robots and unmanned AGV systems, achieved full-process automation of ingot production, and improved production efficiency by 30%. · Product Quality Awards: The main product, zinc ingots (including the 99.997% grade), together with the by-product sulphuric acid, were awarded the highest honor in nonferrous metals product physical quality certification — the "Gold Cup Award," serving as an authoritative endorsement of their quality stability and superiority by the industry. In 2025, the smelter was recognized as a "Premium Brand" by the CNIA. · Market Access Certification: The main product, zinc ingots, was successfully registered on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, obtaining standardized market circulation qualifications. The brand value reached 2.482 billion yuan, ranking 31st nationwide among "Product Brands," laying a solid foundation for the market promotion of 99.997% high-purity zinc ingots. ◆ Diverse Applications: Empowering High-End Industrial Development ◆ Due to its extremely low impurity content and excellent chemical stability, the 99.998% high-purity zinc ingot demonstrates irreplaceable application value in multiple high-end fields: · High-End Electronics: As a core raw material for electronic component coatings, its low-impurity characteristics effectively enhance the conductivity and service life of electronic devices, and it is widely used in the production of precision electronic components such as integrated circuits and smartphone chips. · Aerospace: Used in anti-corrosion coatings for aerospace components and lightweight alloy material manufacturing, its stable physicochemical properties can adapt to extreme environments, ensuring the reliability of aerospace equipment. · Pharmaceutical and Chemical Industry: Serving as raw materials for pharmaceutical intermediates and high-end catalysts, its high-purity characteristics ensure product safety and efficacy, meeting the stringent standards of the pharmaceutical and chemical industry. · New Energy: In the production of new energy products such as zinc-based batteries and energy storage equipment, high-purity zinc ingots can enhance battery energy density and cycle life, facilitating the upgrading of the new energy industry. ◆ Outstanding Performance: Market Recognition Demonstrates Strength ◆ With a zinc ingot capacity of 100,000 mt, the 99.998% high-purity zinc ingots, leveraging core advantages of low lead, low iron, and low cadmium, received strong recognition from downstream clients upon market launch, delivering impressive market results: · Industry-Leading Zinc Ingot Quality: Zinc ingot purity reaches 99.998%, with lead content at 0.0009%, iron content stable at 0.0003%, and cadmium, tin, and aluminum consistently maintained at 0.0002%, placing it at a leading level in the ISP zinc smelting industry. · Extensive Market Coverage: Products were rapidly sold to core markets such as Shanghai and Xuzhou, covering multiple sectors including high-end electronics and precision manufacturing, breaking the supply bottleneck of high-end high-purity zinc ingots. · Leading Client Satisfaction: With stable purity, extremely low impurity content, and reliable supply capability, a stable client base and strong market reputation have been established. Client satisfaction in 2025 reached 100%. ◆ Future Outlook: Continuously Leading High-Quality Development ◆ Chengzhou Zinc Smelter consistently adheres to the pursuit of excellence and perfection. Taking the successful production of 99.998% high-purity zinc ingots as a significant breakthrough, it continues to increase R&D investment, actively introduces advanced and applicable production technologies and equipment, focuses on building a high-caliber professional technical talent team, and continuously optimizes the production process for 99.997% high-purity zinc ingots while steadily advancing technical breakthroughs for even higher-purity zinc products. Meanwhile, it deepens industry-academia-research collaborative innovation, expands application scenarios of high-purity zinc in high-end manufacturing, new materials, and other fields, and promotes coordinated improvement and synergistic development across the upstream and downstream of the industry chain. The enterprise is anchored on the goal of building an industry-leading lean benchmark enterprise, continuously strengthening whole-process quality management, deepening green and low-carbon production, accelerating intelligent transformation and upgrading, and driving enterprise quality improvement, efficiency enhancement, and transformation with solid achievements, contributing tangible "Chengye Strength" to the high-quality development of the zinc smelting industry. ◆ Contact Information ◆ Long press to scan the code and register now 2026 SMM Zinc Industry Conference

Published at:13th May 2026, 1:44 pm Overview India doubled platinum import duties to 15.4%, escalating costs for vehicles reliant on catalytic converters, particularly diesel SUVs and strong hybrids. This move, aimed at forex conservation, is expected to increase car prices and may accelerate the shift toward battery electric vehicles as automakers seek to mitigate rising input expenses. Duty Hike Increases Vehicle Costs India's decision to more than double its import duty on platinum, from 6.4% to 15.4%, is set to significantly increase costs for the domestic auto industry. This policy, aimed at conserving foreign exchange reserves amid geopolitical instability in West Asia, directly impacts the supply chain for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, particularly their emission control systems. The move is expected to raise production costs, hitting vehicle segments that use more platinum in their catalytic converters the hardest, such as diesel sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and strong hybrid models. Market Reaction and Stock Divergence Investor reaction was mixed. Some component suppliers saw their shares decline, with Sharda Motor Industries dropping 2.1% to INR 950. In contrast, larger automakers like Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki saw modest gains, rising 1.2% to INR 1250 and 1.5% to INR 13000. Analysts noted that companies like Maruti Suzuki (P/E 35, market cap ~$35 billion) are better positioned to pass on input costs than smaller suppliers. Tata Motors (market cap ~$20 billion, P/E 28) faces higher direct costs due to its significant diesel SUV range, while Mahindra & Mahindra (market cap ~$25 billion, P/E 32) is also exposed through its diesel-heavy offerings. Estimating Price Hikes and Emission Compliance Costs The increased duty increases the cost of meeting BS-VI emission standards. Industry estimates suggest potential price increases ranging from ₹2,500–₹4,000 for entry-level petrol cars, ₹8,000–₹12,000 for mid-size diesel SUVs, and ₹12,000–₹18,000 for strong hybrids. These figures reflect higher platinum-group metal loading, from 2-4 grams in petrol cars to 6-10 grams in diesel SUVs and 10-15 grams in hybrids. Component manufacturers such as Bosch India (P/E 45, market cap ~$12 billion) and Tenneco (P/E 15, market cap ~$3 billion) will likely face contract renegotiations, as most agreements include commodity pass-through clauses. Past duty adjustments in 2023 led to 3-5% price hikes for affected vehicles and temporary stock declines for OEMs, a pattern that could repeat if automakers cannot fully pass on costs. The Indian auto sector, which reported 8-10% year-over-year volume growth in Q1 2026, now faces added margin pressure on top of existing commodity and currency challenges. Global platinum prices have recently traded between $950-$1050 per ounce, influenced by industrial demand and global events. Risks for Automakers and EV Competition The higher import duty poses a significant risk for automakers and component suppliers heavily reliant on platinum-based catalytic converters. Companies with large portfolios of diesel SUVs and strong hybrids, including Ashok Leyland (P/E 22, market cap ~$7 billion) and Toyota Kirloskar Motor (a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corp), face direct cost increases. This duty burden worsens their competitive position against battery electric vehicle (BEV) makers. While Tata Motors is investing in its EV division, its existing ICE operations are now less cost-competitive. Component suppliers like Sharda Motor Industries (P/E 19, market cap ~$1.5 billion) may struggle to absorb rising costs without affecting order volumes as OEMs seek to keep consumer prices stable. Previous supply chain issues have also highlighted the risks of relying on specific imported materials. Recent analysis of Q4 FY26 filings from most Indian OEMs showed strong demand but also noted existing supply chain cost pressures, suggesting limited room for absorbing further increases without impacting profitability or market share. Mitigating Costs and Shifting to EVs Automakers are exploring ways to manage these rising costs. Strategies include accelerating R&D to reduce platinum loading in catalytic converters and expanding precious metal recycling. The government's concessional duty of 4.35% on imported spent catalysts for recovery offers a pathway for recycling the metal. Analysts believe this could slightly improve the cost competitiveness of BEVs, which do not use catalytic converters. Platinum's growing importance in emerging technologies like hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysers may also lead to strategic reviews of its domestic availability and pricing. Source： https://www.whalesbook.com/news/English/auto/Indias-Platinum-Duty-Hike-Squeezes-ICE-Vehicle-Costs

SMM Nickel News, May 14: Macro and market news: (1) On the evening of May 13, US President Trump arrived in Beijing by special aircraft for a state visit to China from May 13 to 15. (2) The US Senate confirmed Warsh as Fed Chairman by a vote of 54 to 45. The Senate had previously approved Warsh as a Fed governor for a 14-year term on May 12. Spot market: On May 14, SMM #1 refined nickel prices fell 1,200 yuan/mt from the previous trading day. Spot premiums: Jinchuan #1 refined nickel averaged 1,350 yuan/mt, up 100 yuan/mt from the previous trading day, while mainstream domestic electrodeposited nickel brands ranged from 700-500 yuan/mt. Futures market: The most-traded SHFE nickel 2606 contract opened lower in the morning session, with prices continuing to decline during the session, closing at 144,600 yuan/mt in the morning session, down 1.06%. The nickel market is currently caught in an ongoing tug-of-war between strong expectations of tightening supply and the reality of high inventory and weak demand, lacking new catalysts to drive a unilateral rally. In the short term, the most-traded SHFE nickel contract is expected to trade in the range of 145,000-150,000 yuan/mt.