The Shanghai Futures Exchange (ShFE) is exploring the possibility of introducing nickel futures for international use, potentially challenging the London Metal Exchange’s (LME) contract. The move comes after a trading crisis in March 2022 severely impacted market confidence in LME’s nickel prices, which had long served as a global benchmark. ShFE is assessing the nickel market’s structure, supply, demand, and other factors at the behest of industry participants seeking alternatives.

To provide international firms access to these futures, ShFE would introduce the contracts on its International Energy Exchange (INE), where commodities like copper, crude oil, and rubber are traded in yuan. The specifics of when the nickel future might launch and its contract specifications remain undecided as ShFE is currently engaging in consultations with the industry.

Two potential deliverable materials for the INE contract being considered are nickel briquette and pressed metal powder. On the other side, CME Group is also exploring the launch of a nickel contract that would settle against prices gathered from a platform to be launched by British-based Global Commodities Holdings (GCH). Abaxx in Singapore is also working towards launching a nickel sulphate contract, the first of its kind, targeting the type of nickel used in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles.

ShFE’s INE had previously introduced a physically deliverable copper contract in 2020, aiming to bolster the domestic market’s influence over metal prices used in the power and construction sectors. However, the liquidity of the INE copper contract has been low, prompting efforts to expand warehousing networks outside China to enhance volumes and liquidity.