CME Group has launched U.S. zinc futures, with the first transactions executed on August 20 for contracts delivering in September. The trades were completed on CME Globex by Glencore and Trafigura, according to the exchange's announcement on Tuesday.
The new futures contract is structured to reflect U.S. duty-paid pricing, a change introduced in March 2026 in response to client demand for instruments aligned with domestic market conditions. CME Group stated the contract provides a centrally cleared, exchange-traded risk management tool covering the full price of zinc in the U.S., enhancing transparency and hedging precision for producers, consumers, and intermediaries.
Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group, said the product addresses the growing importance of regional pricing signals amid geopolitical fragmentation. 'The U.S. zinc market is increasingly operating with its own dynamics, driven by domestic policies and supply security,' Hennig noted. 'Our new futures contract fills this gap by offering participants a precise tool to manage their exposure.'
