CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) announced plans to launch tungsten futures contracts, with trading set to begin by early Q1 2027, pending regulatory review. The contract will be listed on COMEX.

The contract will be financially settled using the Fastmarkets assessment for tungsten APT (Ammonium Paratungstate) on a duty unpaid basis, CIF Rotterdam and Baltimore.

The global tungsten market has annual production of between 85,000 and 95,000 metric tons and is valued at over $20 billion based on current spot prices. Tungsten has been designated a critical mineral by the U.S., the European Union, Japan, India, and other governments. The metal currently has an active spot market but no futures market.

"Tungsten sits at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, semiconductor technologies and geopolitics, and our clients are increasingly seeking to hedge their exposure and improve price transparency," said Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group.

CME Group's metals business recorded 1.2 million contracts traded daily across precious and industrial metals in the first nine months of 2026, a 41% increase year-on-year.