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How to Get Real-Time Copper - LME 3-month (XCU3M) Prices with Metals-API

How to Get Real-Time Copper - LME 3-month (XCU3M) Prices with Metals-API

How to Get Real-Time Copper - LME 3-month (XCU3M) Prices with Metals-API

How to Get Real-Time Copper - LME 3-month (XCU3M) Prices with Metals-API

In today's fast-paced financial markets, having access to real-time data is crucial for making informed decisions. For those interested in the copper market, the Metals-API provides a powerful tool to access real-time prices, including the LME 3-month copper price (XCU3M). This blog post will guide you through the process of accessing real-time copper market prices using the Metals-API, detailing the steps involved, the capabilities of the API, and providing example API calls.

About Copper (XCU)

Copper is one of the most widely used industrial metals, playing a vital role in various sectors, including construction, electronics, and transportation. As the world moves towards digital transformation, the copper market is experiencing significant changes driven by technological innovation and advancements in data analytics. The integration of smart technologies is enabling market participants to gain insights into price movements, demand trends, and supply chain dynamics.

The future of copper trading is likely to be shaped by enhanced data analytics, allowing traders and investors to make more informed decisions based on real-time market data. With the Metals-API, developers can harness the power of real-time copper pricing to build next-generation applications that cater to the evolving needs of the market.

Metals-API Overview

The Metals-API is a comprehensive JSON API that provides real-time and historical data for various metals, including copper. It empowers developers to access a wide range of functionalities, enabling them to create applications that can track prices, analyze trends, and convert currencies. The API is designed with innovation in mind, offering features that cater to both casual users and professional traders.

To get started, visit the Metals-API Website and explore the extensive documentation available at the Metals-API Documentation.

Key Features and Endpoints

The Metals-API offers several key features that can be utilized to access copper prices effectively:

  • Latest Rates Endpoint: This endpoint provides real-time exchange rate data for copper and other metals. Depending on your subscription plan, the API can return updates every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently. This feature is essential for traders who need the latest market information to make timely decisions.
  • Historical Rates Endpoint: Access historical rates for copper dating back to 2019. This endpoint allows users to query the API for historical data by appending a specific date to the request. Historical data is crucial for analyzing trends and making forecasts based on past performance.
  • Bid and Ask Endpoint: This powerful feature retrieves real-time bid and ask prices for copper, providing insights into market liquidity and pricing dynamics. Understanding the bid-ask spread is essential for traders looking to optimize their entry and exit points.
  • Convert Endpoint: The Metals-API includes a currency conversion endpoint that allows users to convert amounts between different metals or to/from USD. This feature is particularly useful for traders dealing with multiple currencies.
  • Time-Series Endpoint: This endpoint enables users to query daily historical rates between two dates of their choice. It is beneficial for conducting detailed analyses over specific time frames.
  • Fluctuation Endpoint: Track how copper prices fluctuate over a specified period. This endpoint provides valuable insights into market volatility and helps traders assess risk.
  • Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: Retrieve OHLC data for copper over a specific time period. This data is essential for technical analysis and understanding market trends.
  • Historical LME Endpoint: Access historical rates for LME symbols, including copper, dating back to 2008. This endpoint is invaluable for traders who need to analyze long-term trends.
  • API Key: Your API Key is a unique identifier that must be included in your requests to authenticate your access to the API. Ensure you keep your API Key secure.
  • API Response: The Metals-API delivers exchange rates relative to USD by default. All data is returned in a structured JSON format, making it easy to integrate into applications.
  • Supported Symbols Endpoint: This endpoint provides a constantly updated list of all available metal symbols, including copper. For a complete list, refer to the Metals-API Supported Symbols.
  • News Endpoint: Retrieve the latest news articles related to various metals, including copper. Staying informed about market news can provide context for price movements.

API Endpoint Examples and Responses

To illustrate how to use the Metals-API, let's explore some example API calls and their responses.

Latest Rates Endpoint

To get real-time exchange rates for copper, you can use the following API call:

GET https://metals-api.com/api/latest?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&base=USD&symbols=XCU

Example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1756072880,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-08-24",
    "rates": {
        "XCU": 0.294118
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Historical Rates Endpoint

To access historical rates for copper, you can use the following API call:

GET https://metals-api.com/api/historical?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&base=USD&symbols=XCU&date=2025-08-23

Example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1755986480,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-08-23",
    "rates": {
        "XCU": 0.292
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Time-Series Endpoint

To get exchange rates for a specific time period, use the following API call:

GET https://metals-api.com/api/timeseries?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&base=USD&symbols=XCU&start_date=2025-08-17&end_date=2025-08-24

Example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "timeseries": true,
    "start_date": "2025-08-17",
    "end_date": "2025-08-24",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "2025-08-17": {
            "XCU": 0.290
        },
        "2025-08-24": {
            "XCU": 0.294118
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Convert Endpoint

To convert an amount from one metal to another, use the following API call:

GET https://metals-api.com/api/convert?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&from=USD&to=XCU&amount=1000

Example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "query": {
        "from": "USD",
        "to": "XCU",
        "amount": 1000
    },
    "info": {
        "timestamp": 1756072880,
        "rate": 0.294118
    },
    "result": 294.118,
    "unit": "troy ounces"
}

Fluctuation Endpoint

To track rate fluctuations between two dates, use the following API call:

GET https://metals-api.com/api/fluctuation?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&base=USD&symbols=XCU&start_date=2025-08-17&end_date=2025-08-24

Example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "fluctuation": true,
    "start_date": "2025-08-17",
    "end_date": "2025-08-24",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "XCU": {
            "start_rate": 0.290,
            "end_rate": 0.294118,
            "change": 0.004118,
            "change_pct": 1.42
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

OHLC (Open/High/Low/Close) Price Endpoint

To get OHLC data for copper over a specific time period, use the following API call:

GET https://metals-api.com/api/open-high-low-close?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&base=USD&symbols=XCU&date=2025-08-24

Example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1756072880,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-08-24",
    "rates": {
        "XCU": {
            "open": 0.290,
            "high": 0.295,
            "low": 0.289,
            "close": 0.294118
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Bid/Ask Endpoint

To get current bid and ask prices for copper, use the following API call:

GET https://metals-api.com/api/bid-ask?access_key=YOUR_API_KEY&base=USD&symbols=XCU

Example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1756072880,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-08-24",
    "rates": {
        "XCU": {
            "bid": 0.293,
            "ask": 0.295,
            "spread": 0.002
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

Conclusion

The Metals-API provides a robust and flexible solution for accessing real-time copper prices, including the LME 3-month price (XCU3M). By leveraging the various endpoints offered by the API, developers can build applications that provide valuable insights into the copper market, enabling traders and investors to make informed decisions.

With features like real-time rates, historical data, bid/ask pricing, and conversion capabilities, the Metals-API is an essential tool for anyone involved in the metals market. As the industry continues to evolve with technological advancements, having access to accurate and timely data will be crucial for success.

For more information on how to integrate the Metals-API into your applications, refer to the Metals-API Documentation and explore the Metals-API Supported Symbols for a comprehensive list of available metals.

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