Updated
Updated · Markets Media · Jun 18
LME, SHFE Launch Steel HRC Shanghai Futures for October 2026 Trading
Updated
Updated · Markets Media · Jun 18

LME, SHFE Launch Steel HRC Shanghai Futures for October 2026 Trading

3 articles · Updated · Markets Media · Jun 18

Summary

  • Trading is expected to begin in October 2026 after final regulatory non-objection under a new LME-SHFE agreement for LME Steel HRC Shanghai.
  • The contract will let investors outside China gain exposure to SHFE’s flat steel market through an LME-listed product rather than trading directly onshore.
  • LME Steel HRC Shanghai will be cash-settled against SHFE’s monthly U.S. dollar Steel HRC Shanghai price, with CPAL handling currency conversions and related pricing work.
  • The deal expands LME’s cash-settled steel lineup while giving China’s steel futures market a wider international role in price formation for global steel companies and financial institutions.

Insights

Will this new steel contract shift global pricing power from London to Shanghai?
What hidden risks does this LME-SHFE steel partnership pose for global traders?