HKEx will launch lead, nickel, tin mini futures on Dec 14

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEx) will introduce yuan-denominated London mini futures for lead, nickel and tin on Monday December 14, it said today.

Hong Kong Exchanges & Clearing (HKEx) will introduce yuan-denominated London mini futures for lead, nickel and tin on Monday December 14, it said today.

The three new contracts will be exempt from exchange fees between December 14 and the end of the day trading session on June 30 2016.

The contract size for the nickel and tin mini futures will be 1 tonne, while the lead mini futures will be 5 tonnes.

Most of the key contract specifications are based on the metals futures offered by the London Metal Exchange, HKEx said.

HKEx is inviting applications from market participants interested in acting as liquidity providers for the new contracts.

The contracts were first announced during LME Week in October, and will join HKEx’s yuan-traded zinc, copper and aluminium mini futures, launched in December 2014.

Charlotte Radford 
charlotte.radford@metalbulletin.com
Twitter: @CRadford_MB

What to read next
The US aluminium industry is experiencing challenges related to tariffs, which have contributed to higher prices and premiums, raising questions about potential impacts on demand. Alcoa's CEO has noted that sustained high prices could affect the domestic market. While trade agreements might provide some relief, analysts expect premiums to remain elevated in the near term. However, aluminum demand is projected to grow over the long term, supported by the energy transition and clean energy projects. To meet this demand, the industry will need to increase production, restart idle smelters and address factors such as electricity costs and global competition.
Read Fastmarkets' monthly base metals market for May 2025 focusing on raw materials including copper, nickel aluminium, lead, zinc and tin.
The Mexico Metals Outlook 2025 conference explored challenges and opportunities in the steel, aluminum and scrap markets, focusing on tariffs, nearshoring, capacity growth and global trends.
China has launched a coordinated crackdown on the illegal export of strategic minerals under export control, such as antimony, gallium, germanium, tungsten and rare earths, the country’s Ministry of Commerce announced on Friday May 9.
Fastmarkets proposes to amend the frequency of Taiwan base metals prices from biweekly to monthly, and the delivery timing for the tin 99.99% ingot premium from two weeks to four weeks.
The US-China trade truce announced on May 12 has brought cautious optimism to China’s non-ferrous metals markets, signaling a possible shift in global trade. Starting May 14, the removal of additional tariffs has impacted sectors like battery raw materials, minor metals and base metals such as zinc and nickel, with mixed reactions. While the improved sentiment has lifted futures prices and trade activity, the long-term effects remain unclear due to challenges like supply-demand pressures and export controls.