CME Group plans world first rare earth futures contract to help Western firms hedge price risks

CME Group Inc. CME is working on a plan to launch the world’s first rare earth futures contract combining neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr). As of February 11, 2026, the proposal remains under discussion and is designed to create a tradable hedging instrument for governments, companies, and banks. If launched, the contract would allow these entities to manage price and supply exposure in a sector that has historically lacked standardized financial risk management tools.