CME Group Announces Record Volume, Open Interest Across Battery Metals Complex

Rhea-AI Summary

CME Group has achieved record-breaking performance in its battery metals complex, with trading volume reaching 2,587 contracts on May 29, 2025, surpassing the previous record of 2,301 contracts. The company reported all-time high combined open interest of 64,387 contracts, with particularly strong performance in Lithium Hydroxide and Cobalt Metal futures, each exceeding 1,000 contracts traded in a single day for the first time. Year-to-date average daily volume has doubled compared to the previous year, reaching 837 contracts. The battery metals suite includes various products such as Lithium Hydroxide futures and options, Lithium Carbonate futures, Cobalt Metal futures and options, Cobalt Hydroxide futures, and Spodumene futures.

Positive

• Record trading volume of 2,587 contracts in battery metals futures and options
• All-time high open interest of 64,387 contracts across battery metals complex
• 100% year-over-year increase in average daily trading volume
• Strong growth in commercial users enhancing market price discovery

Negative

• None.

Insights

Financial Markets Analyst

CME Group's battery metals trading surge reflects growing market maturity and industrial demand for EV supply chain risk management.

The record-breaking activity in CME's battery metals complex demonstrates significant maturation in what has historically been an opaque market segment. With 2,587 contracts traded on May 29 and open interest reaching 64,387 contracts, we're witnessing the transformation of battery metals from niche commodities to mainstream trading instruments.

The 100% year-over-year increase in average daily volume is particularly noteworthy as it indicates accelerating adoption of these risk management tools. For CME Group, this translates directly to revenue growth through transaction fees, while strengthening their competitive position in commodities trading.

What's most significant is the mention of "strong growth in commercial users" - this indicates actual industrial participants (battery manufacturers, automakers, mining companies) are increasingly using these markets for price discovery and hedging, not just speculative traders. This commercial adoption creates a virtuous cycle that improves liquidity and attracts more participants.

The diversification across multiple battery metal products (Lithium Hydroxide, Lithium Carbonate, Cobalt Metal, etc.) positions CME strategically at the center of the electric vehicle supply chain ecosystem. As EV production scales globally, the need for sophisticated risk management tools for these critical materials will only increase, providing a sustainable growth vector for CME's derivatives marketplace.

CHICAGO, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CME Group, the world's leading derivatives marketplace, today announced record volume and open interest across its battery metals complex. A total of 2,587 contracts were traded across battery metals futures and options on May 29, surpassing the previous record of 2,301 contracts set on February 11, 2025. Combined open interest also reached an all-time high of 64,387 contracts.

"CME Group is the venue of choice for managing global battery metals risk," said Jin Hennig, Managing Director and Global Head of Metals at CME Group. "These new records were driven by our benchmark Lithium Hydroxide and Cobalt Metal futures, which each reached over 1,000 contracts traded on a single day for the first time. We are also seeing strong growth in commercial users, helping to attract a broader range of participants and further enhancing price discovery in these critical markets."

CME Group offers market participants the widest range of battery metals products. Across the complex, all 10 of the top 10 volume days have occurred this year, with average daily volume year-to-date at 837 contracts, up 100% from last year.

CME Group's battery metals suite includes Lithium Hydroxide futures and options, Lithium Carbonate futures, Cobalt Metal futures and options, Cobalt Hydroxide futures and Spodumene futures, which are listed by and subject to the rules of COMEX.

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As the world's leading derivatives marketplace, CME Group (www.cmegroup.com) enables clients to trade futures, options, cash and OTC markets, optimize portfolios, and analyze data – empowering market participants worldwide to efficiently manage risk and capture opportunities. CME Group exchanges offer the widest range of global benchmark products across all major asset classes based on interest rates, equity indexes, foreign exchange, energy, agricultural products and metals. The company offers futures and options on futures trading through the CME Globex platform, fixed income trading via BrokerTec and foreign exchange trading on the EBS platform. In addition, it operates one of the world's leading central counterparty clearing providers, CME Clearing. 

CME Group, the Globe logo, CME, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Globex, and E-mini are trademarks of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. CBOT and Chicago Board of Trade are trademarks of Board of Trade of the City of Chicago, Inc. NYMEX, New York Mercantile Exchange and ClearPort are trademarks of New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. COMEX is a trademark of Commodity Exchange, Inc. BrokerTec is a trademark of BrokerTec Americas LLC and EBS is a trademark of EBS Group LTD. The S&P 500 Index is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC ("S&P DJI"). "S&P®", "S&P 500®", "SPY®", "SPX®", US 500 and The 500 are trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC; Dow Jones®, DJIA® and Dow Jones Industrial Average are service and/or trademarks of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. These trademarks have been licensed for use by Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. Futures contracts based on the S&P 500 Index are not sponsored, endorsed, marketed, or promoted by S&P DJI, and S&P DJI makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in such products. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 

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SOURCE CME Group

FAQ

What records did CME Group break in battery metals trading?

CME Group reached a record volume of 2,587 contracts traded on May 29, 2025, and achieved an all-time high open interest of 64,387 contracts across its battery metals complex.

How much has CME's battery metals trading volume grown in 2025?

CME's average daily volume in battery metals trading has increased 100% year-over-year, reaching 837 contracts year-to-date.

What battery metals products does CME Group offer?

CME Group offers Lithium Hydroxide futures and options, Lithium Carbonate futures, Cobalt Metal futures and options, Cobalt Hydroxide futures, and Spodumene futures.

Which CME battery metals products drove the new trading records?

The record was primarily driven by benchmark Lithium Hydroxide and Cobalt Metal futures, with each reaching over 1,000 contracts traded on a single day for the first time.

What is the significance of CME's battery metals trading growth?

The growth indicates increasing market adoption and enhanced price discovery in critical battery metals markets, with strong participation from commercial users.