1. Report Industry Investment Rating - No relevant content provided 2. Core Views of the Report - For Shanghai Nickel, there are contradictions between the macro - situation and the mine end, intensifying the short - term long - short game. The Middle - East conflict and overseas inflation expectations put pressure on the non - ferrous metals market, but the mine end and wet - process supply contradictions support nickel prices in the short term. It is recommended to pay attention to the covered strategy. Focus on the Indonesian nickel mine contradictions and the implementation of supplementary quotas [2]. - For stainless steel, there is overseas macro - suppression, but real - cost support. The supply - demand contradiction is not significant, and the cost may limit the downward elasticity in the short term. Mid - term nickel - steel arbitrage opportunities can be considered [3]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs 3.1 Market Conditions Analysis 3.1.1 Shanghai Nickel - Macro factors such as the US - Iran conflict and overseas inflation expectations put pressure on the non - ferrous metals market. The short - term interest - rate cut expectation has sharply declined, and the probability of a long - term interest - rate increase has risen. - On the fundamental side, the current mine - end contradictions and pyrometallurgical costs may limit the downward elasticity of nickel compared to other non - ferrous metals. The total price of 1.6% grade nickel ore in March increased by $25 year - on - year to $71, pushing the marginal pyrometallurgical cash cost above 130,000 yuan/ton. - If the mine - end contradictions and wet - process supply problems fade in the middle of the year, the logic of wet - process replacing pyrometallurgical marginal costs may emerge. But in the short term, the marginal cost is still the integrated pyrometallurgical path. - The Indonesian APNI Association mentioned a 30% quota revision space, reducing the upward elasticity of Shanghai Nickel. Pay attention to the covered strategy in the short term [2]. 3.1.2 Stainless Steel - The US - Iran conflict's shipping problems have a negative pressure expectation on the global economy. Stainless steel consumption in the Middle East accounts for about 2% of the global total. Overseas inflation expectations significantly reduce the probability of interest - rate cuts, and the expectation of tightened liquidity puts pressure on risk assets. - The supply - demand contradiction of stainless steel is not large. The destocking level after the Spring Festival in recent weeks is acceptable compared to the same period in previous years, but the upstream inventory is at a relatively high historical level. The production schedule in March soared to 3.63 million tons, with a cumulative year - on - year increase of 4% and a month - on - month increase of 40%. Among them, the production of 300 - series stainless steel was 1.25 million tons, with a cumulative year - on - year increase of 0% and a month - on - month increase of 49%. - The main contradiction lies in the raw material end. The cash - cost break - even line for delivery on the spot market has risen to nearly 14,100 yuan/ton. The total price of 1.6% grade nickel ore in March increased by $25 year - on - year to $71, and the marginal cost of Indonesian ferronickel has increased by nearly 20%, with the full cost at around 1,070 yuan/nickel. The overall cost may temporarily limit the downward elasticity [3]. 3.2 Inventory Tracking - On March 20, China's refined nickel social inventory increased by 641 tons to 84,387 tons, with warehouse - receipt inventory increasing by 228 tons to 56,690 tons, spot inventory increasing by 413 tons to 24,727 tons, and bonded - area inventory remaining unchanged at 2,970 tons. LME nickel inventory decreased by 1,146 tons to 283,512 tons [4]. - On March 20, the inventory days of SMM nickel sulfate's upstream, downstream, and integrated production lines remained unchanged month - on - month at 5, 7, and 7 days respectively. The precursor inventory decreased by 0.6 month - on - month to 13.0 days, and the ternary material inventory decreased by 0.3 month - on - month to 7.2 days [5][6]. - On March 20, the SMM ferronickel full - industry chain inventory decreased by 4% month - on - month to 126,000 metal tons and decreased by 4% week - on - week. In February, the SMM stainless - steel mill inventory was 1.65 million tons, with a year - on - month increase of 10% and a month - on - month increase of 8%. The stainless - steel social inventory was 1.1274 million tons, with a week - on - week decrease of 1.32%. Among them, the cold - rolled stainless - steel inventory was 691,400 tons, with a week - on - week decrease of 2.07%, and the hot - rolled stainless - steel inventory was 436,100 tons, with a week - on - week decrease of 0.10% [6]. 3.3 Market News - The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) revealed that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) will revise the benchmark price formula for nickel ore commodities in early 2026, including treating cobalt as an independent commodity and levying royalties [6]. - The Solway Investment Group plans to restart its nickel - mining business in Guatemala in a few months due to the sharp rebound in nickel prices and the US lifting restrictions on its local facilities. The expected restart time of the CGN mine is around April - May 2026, consistent with the restart time of the PRONICO ferronickel plant [7]. - On February 10, the ESDM released the 2026 nickel work plan and cost budget (RKAB). The approved nickel ore production quota is between 260 million and 270 million tons [7]. - On February 12, Philippine miners said that the export volume of Indonesian nickel ore may double [8]. - On February 18, 2026, a landslide occurred in a tailings area in the Morowali Industrial Park (IMIP) in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, resulting in one worker's death and the suspension of the affected area's operations [8]. - On February 17, 2026, Sherritt International Corporation reduced the operation scale of its joint - venture in Moa, Cuba, due to limited fuel supply. It suspended mining operations and put the processing plant on standby for planned maintenance [8]. - PT Weda Bay Nickel (PT WBN) received a preliminary notice from the Indonesian authorities to submit a work plan and budget (RKAB), with the annual production and sales (internal and external) volume of 12 million tons, a 70% reduction compared to 2025 [8]. - The Indonesian Forest Area Management Working Group (PKH Working Group) imposed sanctions on four nickel - mining companies in North Maluku Province. These companies were fined according to the regulations, with the nickel ore commodity fine standard at 6.5 million Indonesian rupiah per hectare [9]. - The ESDM estimated that Indonesia's nickel ore production in 2026 will be about 209 million tons, including 540,000 tons of ferronickel and 92,000 tons of nickel matte [9]. - The APNI said that the revision of the 2026 work plan and budget (RKAB) is expected to be approved in July, and the revised RKAB may increase the nickel production quota by up to 30% [9]. - The ESDM aims to complete the approval of the 2026 mineral and coal mining work plan and budget (RKAB) by the end of March 2026 [9]. 3.4 Weekly Key Data Tracking - The report provides a table of weekly key data tracking for nickel and stainless steel, including closing prices, trading volumes, prices of various nickel products, and price differences [11].

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the report 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - **Nickel**: The accumulation of smelting inventories and macro - sentiment resonate, while the shortage at the mine end supports the bottom. Although the logic of resource - based and strategic reserve narratives still exists, short - term attention should be paid to the change in the conflict situation. In terms of fundamentals, Indonesia's resource management actions may stimulate market sentiment, but the 30% quota revision space mentioned by the APNI Association reduces the upward elasticity of Shanghai nickel. The mine - end contradiction is real in the first half of the year, pushing up the integrated pyrometallurgical cash cost to 130,000 yuan/ton. In the short term, trading should focus on the current mine - end contradiction, with a strategy of buying on dips near the pyrometallurgical cost. From late March to April, attention should be paid to the supply release of the Philippines and Indonesia's second - round supplementary quota. If the supply is less than expected, nickel prices may remain strong [1]. - **Stainless Steel**: The market is disturbed by macro - risk preferences, and the actual cost center has shifted upward. The shipping problem in the US - Iran conflict has a negative impact on the global economy, reducing market risk preferences. The supply - demand contradiction of stainless steel is not significant, but high production schedules pose challenges to consumption verification. The cost logic provides support for stainless steel, and the strategy in March is to go long at low intervals while being vigilant about macro - risks [2]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Inventory Tracking - **Refined Nickel**: On March 13, China's social inventory increased by 2,397 tons to 83,746 tons, with warehouse receipt inventory increasing by 2,894 tons to 56,462 tons, spot inventory decreasing by 197 tons to 24,314 tons, and bonded area inventory decreasing by 300 tons to 2,970 tons. LME nickel inventory decreased by 2,892 tons to 284,658 tons [4]. - **New Energy**: On March 13, the inventory days of SMM nickel sulfate's upstream, downstream, and integrated production lines changed monthly by 0, - 2, and 0 to 5, 7, and 7 days respectively. On March 12, the precursor inventory changed monthly by - 0.5 to 13.1 days, and the ternary material inventory changed monthly by - 0.2 to 7.2 days [4]. - **Nickel - iron and Stainless Steel**: On March 12, the SMM nickel - iron full - industry chain inventory increased by 10% monthly to 131,000 metal tons and decreased by 1% weekly. In February, the SMM stainless steel mill inventory was 1.65 million tons, increasing by 10% year - on - year and 8% month - on - month. On March 12, the Mysteel stainless steel social inventory was 1.1425 million tons, decreasing by 0.66% weekly. Among them, the cold - rolled stainless steel inventory was 706,000 tons, decreasing by 1.14% weekly, and the hot - rolled stainless steel inventory was 436,500 tons, increasing by 0.14% weekly [4]. 3.2 Market News - The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) revealed that the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will revise the benchmark price formula for nickel ore commodities in early 2026, and the government will start treating cobalt as an independent commodity and collecting royalties [5]. - The Solway Investment Group plans to restart its nickel mine business in Guatemala in a few months due to the significant rebound in nickel prices and the lifting of US restrictions [5]. - The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced the 2026 nickel work plan and cost budget, with the approved nickel ore production quota between 260 million and 270 million tons [5]. - Philippine miners said on February 12 that the export volume of nickel ore to Indonesia may double [6]. - On February 18, a landslide occurred in a tailings area of the Morowali Industrial Park in Indonesia, resulting in one death and the suspension of operations in the affected area [6]. - Sherritt International Corporation reduced the operation scale of its joint - venture in Cuba due to limited fuel supply, suspending mining operations and putting the processing plant on standby for maintenance [6]. - PT Weda Bay Nickel received a preliminary notice from the Indonesian authorities, with a production and sales quota of 12 million tons in the work plan and budget, a 70% reduction compared to 2025 [6]. - The Indonesian Forest Area Management Working Group imposed sanctions on four nickel mining companies in North Maluku Province, and they were fined according to the regulations [7]. - The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources estimated the 2026 nickel ore production to be about 209 million tons, including 540,000 tons of nickel - iron and 92,000 tons of nickel matte [7]. - The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association (APNI) said that the revision of the 2026 work plan and budget is expected to be approved in July, and the revised RKAB may increase the nickel production quota by up to 30% [9]. 3.3 Weekly Key Data Tracking of Nickel and Stainless Steel - **Futures**: The closing price of the Shanghai nickel main contract was 136,930 yuan, with a change of - 1,170 yuan compared to T - 1. The closing price of the stainless steel main contract was 14,190 yuan, with a change of - 95 yuan compared to T - 1. The trading volume of the Shanghai nickel main contract was 402,936 lots, and that of the stainless steel main contract was 183,920 lots [12]. - **Industrial Chain**: The price of 1 imported nickel was 137,950 yuan, the price of 8 - 12% high - nickel pig iron (ex - factory price) was 1,095 yuan, and the price of 304/2B coil - rough edge (Wuxi) was 14,450 yuan [12].

Group 1 - The article discusses the recent surge in oil prices, reaching a six-month high, and the rebound in gold and silver prices, attributed to geopolitical tensions between the US and Iran, as well as the conflict between the US Supreme Court and the President over tariffs, reflecting a deepening trend of de-globalization and resource nationalism [3][25]. - The US Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed by the Trump administration under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal, which has significant implications for the future of US tariff policy [4][26]. - The ruling redefines the constitutional boundaries of tariff authority, indicating that the power to impose tariffs belongs to Congress, potentially leading to a refund pressure of up to hundreds of billions of dollars on the government [4][26]. Group 2 - The article outlines two potential scenarios regarding the future of US tariff policy: a pessimistic view where tariff threats persist under new frameworks, and an optimistic view where the ruling creates legal barriers for future presidents to impose tariffs without congressional approval, potentially leading to a more stable global trade environment [5][27]. - The geopolitical situation between the US and Iran remains tense, with military action still a possibility despite ongoing diplomatic talks, which has heightened risks in the oil market [6][28]. - Brent crude oil prices have risen to approximately $70-72 per barrel, reflecting increased geopolitical premiums and market consensus leaning towards a lower probability of reconciliation between the US and Iran [7][29]. Group 3 - The domestic macroeconomic environment is entering a critical observation period ahead of the "Two Sessions," with financial data indicating a rebound in M2 and M1 growth rates, driven primarily by government financing [8][30]. - The article identifies potential investment opportunities in domestic commodities, particularly in products that are currently at low price levels and have upward supply elasticity, such as caustic soda [8][30]. - In the agricultural sector, the palm oil market is showing signs of a bullish trend due to significant production declines in Malaysia and geopolitical factors affecting supply [9][31].