Core Viewpoint - The land market in China is experiencing a trend of reduced transaction volume but improved quality, with a year-on-year decrease of 8% in land transaction scale in the first half of 2025, reaching a new low. However, average floor prices across various city tiers have increased, and premium rates have significantly rebounded, indicating a recovery in enterprise investment and positive signals for industry stabilization [1][3][22]. Summary by Sections Land Market Trends - In the first half of 2025, the total land transaction area across 300 cities was 250 million square meters, marking an 8% decline compared to the same period in 2024, the lowest since 2010. The transaction scale has consistently decreased month-on-month, with a notable acceleration in the decline since the second quarter [3][22]. - The average premium rate for land transactions reached 9.2% in the first half of 2025, an increase of 4.8 percentage points from the previous year, reflecting a recovery in market activity supported by government policies [8][22]. City-Level Performance - There is a clear divergence in land transaction performance among different city tiers. First and second-tier cities have seen a rebound in transaction area and value, with transaction amounts increasing by 52% and 37% year-on-year, respectively. In contrast, third and fourth-tier cities continue to experience declines in both volume and price [4][5][22]. - The top three cities—Shanghai, Beijing, and Hangzhou—accounted for 35% of the national land transaction value, with total transactions reaching 345.1 billion yuan, an increase of 10 percentage points from the previous year [14][16]. Investment Trends - The investment from leading real estate companies has shown a significant recovery, with the top 100 companies' new land reserves totaling 939.3 billion yuan in the first five months of 2025, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 21.1% in value [19][20]. - Central state-owned enterprises continue to dominate the land market, focusing on acquiring high-quality land in core urban areas, while many private enterprises remain cautious in their land acquisition strategies [20][27]. Future Outlook - In the second half of 2025, local governments are expected to further implement "control quantity and improve quality" policies, which, along with the easing of local debt indicators by the central government, will support a continued reduction in land supply [23][25]. - The overall market is anticipated to remain in a state of adjustment, with a focus on inventory reduction and debt optimization, as most real estate companies prioritize cash flow and sales recovery over aggressive land acquisition [27].