How to get accurate Copper (XCU) prices using this API

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, obtaining accurate and real-time data is crucial for making informed decisions. This is especially true in the metals market, where fluctuations can significantly impact investment strategies. One of the key players in this domain is Copper, represented by the symbol XCU. In this blog post, we will explore how to get accurate Copper prices using the Metals-API, a powerful tool that provides real-time and historical data for various metals, including Copper.

Metals-API Information

About Copper (XCU)

Copper is a versatile metal widely used in electrical wiring, plumbing, and various industrial applications. Its price is influenced by numerous factors, including supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, and technological advancements. The digital transformation in metal markets has led to innovative approaches in tracking and analyzing these fluctuations. With the integration of smart technology and data analytics, stakeholders can now gain deeper insights into market trends and make data-driven decisions.

As we delve into the capabilities of the Metals-API, we will see how it empowers developers to create next-generation applications that can harness real-time metals data. This API not only provides accurate pricing but also offers a suite of features that enhance the user experience and facilitate comprehensive market analysis.

API Description

The Metals-API is designed to provide developers with a robust platform for accessing real-time and historical metal prices. It supports a wide range of functionalities, allowing users to retrieve data on various metals, including Copper, Gold, Silver, and more. The API's capabilities extend beyond simple price retrieval; it offers advanced features such as historical rates, bid and ask prices, and currency conversion.

By leveraging the power of the Metals-API, developers can build applications that not only display current prices but also analyze trends over time, track fluctuations, and convert between different currencies. This transformative potential makes the Metals-API an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the metals market.

Key Features and Endpoints

The Metals-API boasts a variety of endpoints that cater to different data needs. Here are some of the most notable features:

• Latest Rates Endpoint: Depending on your subscription plan, this endpoint returns real-time exchange rate data updated every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently. For instance, if you want to check the latest price of Copper (XCU), you can easily access this information through the API.
• Historical Rates Endpoint: Users can access historical rates for most currencies dating back to 2019. By appending a specific date to your query, you can retrieve past prices and analyze trends over time.
• Bid And Ask Endpoint: This powerful feature allows you to retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for metals, providing insights into market liquidity and pricing dynamics.
• Convert Endpoint: The API includes a currency conversion endpoint, enabling users to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD. This is particularly useful for traders who operate in multiple currencies.
• Time-Series Endpoint: This endpoint allows you to query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of your choice, making it easier to analyze price movements over specific periods.
• Fluctuation Endpoint: With this feature, you can track how prices fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, providing valuable insights into market volatility.
• Carat Endpoint: This endpoint retrieves information about Gold rates by Carat, allowing users to understand the value of Gold in different purities.
• Lowest/Highest Price Endpoint: Users can query the API to get the lowest and highest prices for a specified date, helping them identify market extremes.
• Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: This endpoint provides open, high, low, and close prices for a specified date, essential for technical analysis.
• Historical LME Endpoint: Access historical rates for LME symbols dating back to 2008, which is crucial for long-term market analysis.
• API Key: Your unique API key is required to access the API, ensuring secure and authorized usage.
• API Response: The API delivers exchange rates relative to USD by default, with all data returned in a structured JSON format.
• Available Endpoints: The Metals-API offers 14 different endpoints, each providing unique functionalities tailored to various user needs.
• Supported Symbols Endpoint: This endpoint returns all available currencies, allowing users to stay updated on the latest symbols supported by the API.
• News Endpoint: Retrieve the latest news articles related to various metals, keeping you informed about market developments.

List of Symbols

The Metals-API provides access to a comprehensive range of metal symbols. For a complete list of all supported symbols and their specifications, refer to the Metals-API Supported Symbols page.

API Endpoint Examples and Responses

Understanding the API's response structure is crucial for effective implementation. Below are examples of various endpoints and their responses:

Latest Rates Endpoint

Get real-time exchange rates for all available metals.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1764655256,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-02",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912,
"XPD": 0.000744,
"XCU": 0.294118,
"XAL": 0.434783,
"XNI": 0.142857,
"XZN": 0.344828
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

In this response, you can see the current price of Copper (XCU) is 0.294118 per troy ounce, along with prices for other metals.

Historical Rates Endpoint

Access historical exchange rates for any date since 1999.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1764568856,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-01",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915,
"XPD": 0.000748
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response shows the historical rates for various metals on a specific date, allowing for trend analysis.

Time-series Endpoint

Get exchange rates for a specific time period.

{
"success": true,
"timeseries": true,
"start_date": "2025-11-25",
"end_date": "2025-12-02",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"2025-11-25": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915
},
"2025-11-27": {
"XAU": 0.000483,
"XAG": 0.0382,
"XPT": 0.000913
},
"2025-12-02": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This endpoint is particularly useful for analyzing price trends over a specified period, allowing developers to visualize data effectively.

Convert Endpoint

Convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD.

{
"success": true,
"query": {
"from": "USD",
"to": "XAU",
"amount": 1000
},
"info": {
"timestamp": 1764655256,
"rate": 0.000482
},
"result": 0.482,
"unit": "troy ounces"
}

This response illustrates how the API can be used to convert currencies, providing the user with the equivalent value in troy ounces.

Fluctuation Endpoint

Track rate fluctuations between two dates.

{
"success": true,
"fluctuation": true,
"start_date": "2025-11-25",
"end_date": "2025-12-02",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"start_rate": 0.000485,
"end_rate": 0.000482,
"change": -3.0e-6,
"change_pct": -0.62
},
"XAG": {
"start_rate": 0.03825,
"end_rate": 0.03815,
"change": -0.0001,
"change_pct": -0.26
},
"XPT": {
"start_rate": 0.000915,
"end_rate": 0.000912,
"change": -3.0e-6,
"change_pct": -0.33
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This endpoint provides insights into how prices have changed over time, which is vital for traders looking to capitalize on market movements.

OHLC (Open/High/Low/Close) Endpoint

Get OHLC data for a specific time period.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1764655256,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-02",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"open": 0.000485,
"high": 0.000487,
"low": 0.000481,
"close": 0.000482
},
"XAG": {
"open": 0.03825,
"high": 0.0383,
"low": 0.0381,
"close": 0.03815
},
"XPT": {
"open": 0.000915,
"high": 0.000918,
"low": 0.00091,
"close": 0.000912
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

OHLC data is essential for technical analysis, allowing traders to assess market conditions and make informed decisions.

Bid/Ask Endpoint

Get current bid and ask prices for metals.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1764655256,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-02",
"rates": {
"XAU": {
"bid": 0.000481,
"ask": 0.000483,
"spread": 2.0e-6
},
"XAG": {
"bid": 0.0381,
"ask": 0.0382,
"spread": 0.0001
},
"XPT": {
"bid": 0.000911,
"ask": 0.000913,
"spread": 2.0e-6
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This endpoint provides crucial information for traders looking to understand market depth and pricing efficiency.

Conclusion

The Metals-API is an essential tool for developers and traders in the metals market. By providing real-time and historical data, it enables users to make informed decisions based on accurate information. The various endpoints, including the Latest Rates, Historical Rates, and Bid/Ask features, offer a comprehensive suite of functionalities that cater to diverse needs.

As the market continues to evolve with technological advancements, the integration of APIs like Metals-API will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of trading and investment strategies. By leveraging the capabilities of this API, developers can create innovative applications that enhance user experience and provide valuable insights into market trends.

For more information on how to implement the Metals-API and explore its features, visit the Metals-API Documentation and discover the full potential of this powerful tool.