Get Aluminum - LME 3-month (ALU3M) Historical Prices for market research using this API

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of financial markets, the demand for accurate and timely data is paramount. For those involved in market research, understanding the historical prices of metals like Aluminum (symbol: XAL) is crucial. This blog post will delve into how to obtain Aluminum - LME 3-month (ALU3M) historical prices using the Metals-API. We will explore the capabilities of this API, its innovative features, and how it can empower developers to create next-generation applications that leverage real-time metals data.

About Aluminum (XAL)

Aluminum is one of the most widely used metals in the world, known for its lightweight, corrosion resistance, and versatility. As industries continue to innovate, the demand for aluminum is expected to grow, driven by advancements in technology and sustainability efforts. The digital transformation in metal markets has paved the way for enhanced data analytics and insights, allowing stakeholders to make informed decisions based on real-time data.

Technological innovations in the aluminum sector are also noteworthy. From smart technology integration in manufacturing processes to the development of advanced recycling techniques, the future of aluminum looks promising. As we look ahead, the potential for data-driven decision-making in the aluminum market will only increase, making access to historical price data more critical than ever.

Metals-API Overview

The Metals-API is a powerful tool designed to provide real-time and historical data for various metals, including aluminum. This API offers a range of endpoints that allow developers to access the latest rates, historical prices, and other relevant data points. By leveraging the capabilities of the Metals-API, developers can create applications that provide valuable insights into market trends and price fluctuations.

Key Features of Metals-API

The Metals-API boasts several key features that make it an invaluable resource for developers and market analysts alike:

• Latest Rates Endpoint: Depending on your subscription plan, this endpoint provides real-time exchange rate data updated every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently. This feature is essential for tracking the current market conditions for aluminum and other metals.
• Historical Rates Endpoint: Access historical rates dating back to 2019. By appending a specific date to your query, you can retrieve historical price data for aluminum, allowing for in-depth market analysis.
• Bid and Ask Endpoint: This feature enables you to retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for aluminum, providing insights into market liquidity and pricing dynamics.
• Convert Endpoint: The Metals-API includes a currency conversion endpoint, allowing users to convert amounts from one metal to another or to/from USD. This is particularly useful for traders and analysts who need to assess value across different currencies.
• Time-Series Endpoint: Query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of your choice. This endpoint is invaluable for trend analysis and forecasting.
• Fluctuation Endpoint: Retrieve information about how aluminum prices fluctuate on a day-to-day basis, helping analysts understand volatility and market behavior.
• Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint: This endpoint provides open, high, low, and close prices for aluminum over a specified time period, essential for technical analysis.
• Historical LME Endpoint: Access historical rates for LME symbols, including aluminum, dating back to 2008. This is crucial for long-term market research and analysis.
• API Key: Each user is assigned a unique API key, which is required to access the API's features securely.
• API Response: The Metals-API delivers exchange rates relative to USD by default, ensuring consistency in data interpretation.
• News Endpoint: Stay updated with the latest news articles related to various metals, including aluminum, to understand market sentiment and external factors influencing prices.

Understanding API Responses

When interacting with the Metals-API, understanding the structure of the API responses is crucial for effective data utilization. Here are some examples of the JSON responses you can expect from various endpoints:

Latest Rates Endpoint

To get real-time exchange rates for aluminum, you can use the Latest Rates Endpoint. Here’s an example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1763168537,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-11-15",
    "rates": {
        "XAL": 0.434783
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response indicates that the current price of aluminum is 0.434783 USD per troy ounce.

Historical Rates Endpoint

Accessing historical exchange rates for aluminum can be done through the Historical Rates Endpoint. Here’s an example:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1763082137,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-11-14",
    "rates": {
        "XAL": 0.430000
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response shows the historical price of aluminum on November 14, 2025, at 0.430000 USD per troy ounce.

Time-Series Endpoint

The Time-Series Endpoint allows you to retrieve exchange rates for a specific time period. Here’s an example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "timeseries": true,
    "start_date": "2025-11-08",
    "end_date": "2025-11-15",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "2025-11-08": {
            "XAL": 0.430000
        },
        "2025-11-10": {
            "XAL": 0.432000
        },
        "2025-11-15": {
            "XAL": 0.434783
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides a time series of aluminum prices over a specified period, allowing for trend analysis.

Convert Endpoint

The Convert Endpoint is useful for converting amounts between different metals or currencies. Here’s an example:

{
    "success": true,
    "query": {
        "from": "USD",
        "to": "XAL",
        "amount": 1000
    },
    "info": {
        "timestamp": 1763168537,
        "rate": 0.434783
    },
    "result": 2.303,
    "unit": "troy ounces"
}

This response indicates that 1000 USD converts to approximately 2.303 troy ounces of aluminum at the current rate.

Fluctuation Endpoint

To track rate fluctuations, you can use the Fluctuation Endpoint. Here’s an example response:

{
    "success": true,
    "fluctuation": true,
    "start_date": "2025-11-08",
    "end_date": "2025-11-15",
    "base": "USD",
    "rates": {
        "XAL": {
            "start_rate": 0.430000,
            "end_rate": 0.434783,
            "change": 0.004783,
            "change_pct": 1.11
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response shows the fluctuation in aluminum prices over the specified period, highlighting the change in price and percentage change.

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

The OHLC Price Endpoint provides detailed price data for a specific time period. Here’s an example:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1763168537,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-11-15",
    "rates": {
        "XAL": {
            "open": 0.430000,
            "high": 0.435000,
            "low": 0.428000,
            "close": 0.434783
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response provides the open, high, low, and close prices for aluminum on November 15, 2025, essential for technical analysis.

Bid/Ask Endpoint

The Bid/Ask Endpoint allows you to get current bid and ask prices for aluminum. Here’s an example:

{
    "success": true,
    "timestamp": 1763168537,
    "base": "USD",
    "date": "2025-11-15",
    "rates": {
        "XAL": {
            "bid": 0.433000,
            "ask": 0.435000,
            "spread": 0.002000
        }
    },
    "unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This response indicates the current bid and ask prices for aluminum, along with the spread, which is crucial for traders.

Common Use Cases for Metals-API

The Metals-API can be utilized in various scenarios, including:

• Market Analysis: Analysts can use historical price data to identify trends and make predictions about future price movements.
• Trading Applications: Developers can create trading platforms that leverage real-time data to execute trades based on current market conditions.
• Financial Reporting: Companies can integrate the API into their financial reporting systems to provide stakeholders with up-to-date information on metal prices.
• Risk Management: Businesses can use historical data to assess risks associated with price fluctuations and make informed decisions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Metals-API offers a comprehensive solution for accessing historical prices of aluminum and other metals. With its innovative features, such as real-time rates, historical data, and various endpoints, developers can build powerful applications that provide valuable insights into the metal markets. As the industry continues to evolve, leveraging such data will be essential for making informed decisions and staying ahead of market trends.

For further exploration, visit the Metals-API Documentation to understand the full capabilities of the API, and check the Metals-API Supported Symbols for a complete list of available metals. Embrace the future of market research with the power of real-time data at your fingertips.