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Key takeaways:
The LME previously voiced its intention to explore such premiums in April 2025.
Low-carbon premiums are a steadily growing phenomenon in the base metals complex, with Fastmarkets publishing low-carbon aluminium premiums in Europe since 2021, in the US since 2023, in East Asia since March 2024 and in Mexico since March 2025.
Fastmarkets defines low-carbon aluminium as having a maximum of 4 tonnes CO2e per tonne of aluminium produced, covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
Fastmarkets has also published a CIF global low-carbon nickel premium since May 2024, for briquette with a maximum of 18 tonnes CO2e per tonne of nickel, covering Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
The LME intends to develop low-carbon premiums for LME-approved brands, with relevant sustainability data disclosed on LMEpassport, the LME’s digital credentials register.
The LME’s ‘green’ premium prices are expected to be derived from a mix of transacted volumes on metals trading platform MetalsHub and market data, such as bids, offers and assessments, reported to Commodity Pricing and Analysis Limited (CPAL), a new HKEX Group-owned subsidiary set up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which will act as price administrator and publish the planned ‘green’ premium prices.
“Our goal is to publish premium prices for sustainable metals, which will enable our industry to unlock the potential value of sustainable metal production,” Matthew Chamberlain, LME chief executive officer, said. “We recognize that there may not be a premium for every metal, but there is a clear market desire to determine whether one exists, and the LME is keen to play a part in answering this question.”
The LME also set out maximum carbon footprint thresholds, based on third party sustainability assurances, for its planned new ‘green’ premium assessments, which are: Aluminium (10 tonnes CO2e), Copper (5 tonnes CO2e), Zinc (3.5 tonnes CO2e) and Nickel (20 tonnes CO2e).
On copper, the LME noted there “was significant doubt from market participants that consumers would be willing to pay a [sustainability] premium […] as a result, the LME understands that there may be less initial participation in the copper premium pricing in the early stages of this initiative.”
The LME and MetalsHub have piloted a low-carbon nickel initiative since March 2024, in which 488 have tonnes traded on the platform. Approximately 55 tonnes of low-carbon nickel traded on Metalshub in the period from January to September 2025.
The LME said it “anticipates cobalt, lead and tin sustainability metal categories to emerge as more significant support from the LME’s market stakeholders develops.”
The LME has set a November 28 deadline for feedback on its sustainability premium proposals.
Fastmarkets assessed the nickel low-carbon metal premium, cif global at $425-992 per tonne on October 1, sharply narrowing down month on month from $425-1,875 per tonne in September.
Fastmarkets’ most recent assessment of the aluminium low-carbon differential P1020A, Europe was $0-20 per tonne on October 3, unchanged month on month.
To learn more about what’s happening at LME Week 2025, visit our dedicated content hub where we’re regularly updating articles and insights from our metals market experts.