CME Group has introduced U.S. zinc futures, completing the first trades on Tuesday with Glencore and Trafigura as participants. The contracts, listed on CME Globex, are structured to reflect U.S. duty-paid zinc prices and are scheduled for September delivery.
The exchange said the new futures contract is designed to provide a risk management tool tailored to the U.S. market, where regional price dynamics have grown more distinct amid shifting supply chains. The contract’s specifications were adjusted in March 2026 following client feedback to align with U.S. duty-paid status, enhancing transparency and hedging precision for producers, consumers, and intermediaries.
Jin Hennig, CME Group’s Managing Director and Global Head of Metals, noted that geopolitical fragmentation has elevated the importance of regional price signals. 'The U.S. zinc market increasingly moves to its own dynamics — driven by domestic policy and supply security — and our new futures contract addresses this gap by providing participants a precise tool to manage their exposure,' Hennig said.
