CME Group to launch tungsten futures in early 2027

CME Group has announced plans to launch tungsten futures contracts in the first quarter of 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The new contracts will be listed on COMEX and are designed to allow market participants to hedge price exposure independently of physical supply.

Each contract will cover 88.5 metric tonne units of tungsten trioxide, which is approximately equivalent to one metric tonne of commercial ammonium paratungstate (APT). The contracts will be financially settled against a Fastmarkets assessment for APT in Rotterdam and Baltimore.

To facilitate long-term hedging, the futures will be available for the current calendar year and the following two years, establishing a forward price curve. The initiative aims to provide price transparency for industries where tungsten is critical, including semiconductor technologies, aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing.