CME Group Launches US Zinc Futures; Glencore, Trafigura Execute First Trade

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) announced Tuesday that commodity giants Glencore and Trafigura have executed the first-ever trade of its new US Zinc Futures contract. The transaction addresses a growing demand from market participants for a tool to manage price risk specific to the United States market.

Inaugural Transaction

The first trade was completed on August 20 for the September delivery contract on the CME Globex platform, the exchange stated. The launch follows CME Group's amendment of its zinc contract in March 2026 to a US duty-paid delivery status, a move prompted by direct client feedback.

The exchange-listed and centrally cleared contract is designed to provide a more effective instrument for comprehensive risk management against US zinc price fluctuations. According to CME Group, the product aims to enhance pricing accuracy, market transparency, and hedging efficiency for producers, consumers, and merchants.

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Market Rationale

The new contract was created to address the increasing importance of regional price signals as geopolitical shifts reshape global supply chains. The US zinc market, in particular, is developing its own unique dynamics driven by domestic policy and supply security concerns.

"As the geopolitical landscape evolves and reshapes global supply chains, the need for regional price discovery has never been more critical," said Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group. "Our new futures contract is designed to fill this gap, providing market participants with a much-needed tool to precisely manage their risk exposure."