CME Group Launches US Zinc Futures with First Trades by Glencore, Trafigura

CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) announced Tuesday the launch of its new U.S. Zinc Futures contract, with commodity trading giants Glencore and Trafigura completing the inaugural trades. The transactions were executed on the CME Globex platform on August 20 for September delivery contracts, according to the exchange operator.

A New Hedging Tool for the US Market

The centrally cleared, exchange-traded product is designed to provide a precise risk management instrument for the complete U.S. zinc price. CME Group stated the contract will improve accuracy, transparency, and hedging capabilities for producers, consumers, and other market intermediaries exposed to domestic price fluctuations.

The launch follows a modification CME made in March 2026 to change its zinc contract to a U.S. duty-paid status. This change was prompted by requests from clients seeking more effective tools to manage pricing conditions specific to the United States.

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Context: Shifting Global Supply Chains

The new contract addresses a growing divergence between U.S. and global zinc prices, driven by regional market dynamics. CME Group noted that factors like domestic policy and supply security are creating a greater need for localized pricing benchmarks.

"As geopolitical fragmentation reshapes global supply chains, regional price signals matter more than ever," said Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group. "The U.S. zinc market increasingly moves to its own dynamics... and our new futures contract addresses this gap by providing participants a precise tool to manage their exposure."