The contract was introduced in March 2026 to provide a centrally cleared instrument for the all-in U.S. zinc price, responding to growing demand for localized risk management. By moving away from global benchmarks toward duty-paid U.S. pricing, the exchange aims to offer producers and consumers greater transparency in their hedging strategies.

Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group, noted that domestic policy and supply security are forcing the U.S. market to operate under its own distinct dynamics. This launch follows the success of other regional industrial metal products, including U.S. and European Hot-Rolled Coil steel futures, which have seen record trading volumes this year. The physically settled zinc contracts are listed under COMEX rules.