Global Commodities Holdings (GCHL) is collaborating with the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to establish a new nickel trading platform, responding to the market’s demand for a more regulated and reliable spot trading environment. This initiative emerges in the wake of the trading suspension chaos that enveloped the London Metal Exchange (LME) two years prior, highlighting the necessity for a platform capable of offering stability and accurate benchmark prices reflective of industrial activities.
Martin Abbott, CEO of GCHL, emphasized the platform’s aim to fill the gap in disrupted or illiquid markets by providing a proven mechanism for trade facilitation and price discovery. While an exact launch date for the nickel trading platform remains unspecified, Abbott revealed that the platform’s scope could broaden to encompass other critical metals used in electric vehicle (EV) battery production, such as cobalt, manganese, and graphite.
A notable aspect of GCHL’s platform is its exclusion of high-carbon nickel, predominantly produced in Indonesia and China, underscoring an environmental consideration in its price discovery process. Abbott highlighted this approach as a strategic move to address market concerns regarding the environmental footprint of nickel production, particularly that which involves Indonesian raw materials used in Chinese production.
Membership to this trading platform will be exclusive to entities actively engaged in physical trading, ensuring that the platform remains closely aligned with the real-world dynamics of the nickel market.
GCHL’s collaboration with ICE is built on an existing partnership, evidenced by the gC NEWC thermal coal index operated by globalCOAL, a GCHL subsidiary, which serves as the settlement price for the ICE-traded gC NEWC Futures contract. Chris Rhodes, President of ICE Futures Europe, expressed enthusiasm about the venture, highlighting ongoing discussions with market participants and stakeholders to craft an alternative market structure for nickel. This new model aims to provide a more effective hedging mechanism that adapts to the evolving supply chain, marking a significant step towards reshaping nickel trading in response to contemporary market demands and environmental considerations. 
