Get Aluminum - LME 3-month (ALU3M) Historical Prices for Financial Modeling using this API

Introduction

In the world of financial modeling, having access to accurate and timely data is crucial. For those involved in the metals market, obtaining historical prices for aluminum, represented by the symbol XAL, is essential for making informed decisions. One of the most effective ways to access this data is through the Metals-API. This powerful API provides developers with the tools necessary to retrieve real-time and historical pricing data, enabling them to build sophisticated financial models and applications.

About Aluminum (XAL)

Aluminum is one of the most widely used metals in the world, known for its lightweight, corrosion-resistant properties. It plays a significant role in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, construction, and packaging. As the demand for aluminum continues to grow, driven by technological advancements and digital transformation in metal markets, understanding its price dynamics becomes increasingly important.

The integration of smart technologies and data analytics into the metals market has revolutionized how traders and investors access and interpret market data. With the rise of digital platforms, stakeholders can now leverage real-time data to make quicker and more informed decisions. The Metals-API stands at the forefront of this transformation, providing developers with the necessary tools to harness the power of data analytics and insights.

Technological Innovation and Advancement

The Metals-API is designed to empower developers to create next-generation applications that can analyze and visualize metal prices, including aluminum. By utilizing the API's capabilities, developers can integrate real-time pricing data into their applications, enabling users to track market trends and make data-driven decisions.

Furthermore, the API supports various endpoints that allow users to access historical prices, bid and ask prices, and even perform currency conversions. This level of flexibility and functionality is essential for developers looking to create comprehensive financial models that can adapt to changing market conditions.

Data Analytics and Insights

Data analytics is a critical component of modern financial modeling. The Metals-API provides developers with access to a wealth of historical data, allowing them to perform in-depth analyses of price trends over time. By leveraging the API's historical rates endpoint, developers can retrieve aluminum prices dating back to 2008, providing a robust dataset for analysis.

For example, a developer can query the API to retrieve historical prices for aluminum on specific dates, enabling them to identify patterns and correlations with market events. This capability is invaluable for traders and analysts who need to understand how external factors influence aluminum prices.

Future Trends and Possibilities

As the metals market continues to evolve, the integration of smart technology and data analytics will play a pivotal role in shaping its future. The Metals-API is at the forefront of this evolution, offering developers the tools they need to create innovative applications that can adapt to market changes.

With the increasing importance of sustainability and environmental considerations, the demand for aluminum is expected to rise. As such, having access to accurate pricing data will be essential for stakeholders looking to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the aluminum market.

API Description

The Metals-API is a powerful tool that provides developers with access to real-time and historical pricing data for various metals, including aluminum. The API is designed with innovation and technological advancement in mind, allowing users to build applications that can analyze and visualize metal prices effectively.

One of the key features of the Metals-API is its ability to deliver real-time exchange rate data, updated frequently based on the user's subscription plan. This ensures that developers have access to the most current pricing information, which is crucial for making informed trading decisions.

Additionally, the API offers a comprehensive range of endpoints, each providing unique functionality. For instance, the Latest Rates Endpoint allows users to retrieve real-time exchange rates for aluminum and other metals, while the Historical Rates Endpoint enables access to historical pricing data dating back to 2008.

Moreover, the Bid and Ask Endpoint provides real-time bid and ask prices, allowing traders to gauge market sentiment and make strategic decisions. The Convert Endpoint facilitates currency conversion, enabling users to convert amounts from one metal to another or to/from USD seamlessly.

For developers looking to analyze price fluctuations, the Fluctuation Endpoint provides insights into how prices change over time, while the Time-Series Endpoint allows users to query daily historical rates between two specified dates.

In addition to these features, the Metals-API also includes endpoints for retrieving the lowest and highest prices, as well as open, high, low, and close (OHLC) data for specific time periods. This level of detail is essential for developers looking to create comprehensive financial models that account for price volatility and market trends.

Key Features and Endpoints

The Metals-API offers a wide range of endpoints, each designed to provide specific functionalities that cater to the needs of developers and traders. Below, we explore some of the most important endpoints and their applications:

Latest Rates Endpoint

The Latest Rates Endpoint is a fundamental feature of the Metals-API, allowing users to retrieve real-time exchange rates for all available metals, including aluminum. Depending on the subscription plan, the API updates this data every 60 minutes, every 10 minutes, or even more frequently.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1766196239,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-20",
"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"
}

This endpoint is particularly useful for traders who need to monitor price changes in real time and make quick decisions based on the latest market data.

Historical Rates Endpoint

The Historical Rates Endpoint allows users to access historical exchange rates for any date since 1999. This feature is invaluable for developers looking to analyze long-term price trends and make forecasts based on historical data.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1766109839,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-19",
"rates": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915,
"XPD": 0.000748
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

By querying this endpoint, developers can retrieve historical prices for aluminum and other metals, enabling them to conduct thorough analyses and identify patterns over time.

Time-Series Endpoint

The Time-Series Endpoint allows users to query the API for daily historical rates between two dates of their choice. This feature is particularly useful for developers looking to analyze price movements over specific time frames.

{
"success": true,
"timeseries": true,
"start_date": "2025-12-13",
"end_date": "2025-12-20",
"base": "USD",
"rates": {
"2025-12-13": {
"XAU": 0.000485,
"XAG": 0.03825,
"XPT": 0.000915
},
"2025-12-15": {
"XAU": 0.000483,
"XAG": 0.0382,
"XPT": 0.000913
},
"2025-12-20": {
"XAU": 0.000482,
"XAG": 0.03815,
"XPT": 0.000912
}
},
"unit": "per troy ounce"
}

This endpoint provides a comprehensive view of price trends over time, allowing developers to create visualizations and reports that highlight significant changes in the market.

Bid and Ask Endpoint

The Bid and Ask Endpoint is a powerful feature that enables users to retrieve real-time bid and ask prices for metals. This information is crucial for traders who need to understand market sentiment and make informed decisions based on current pricing.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1766196239,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-20",
"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 allows traders to gauge the current market conditions and make strategic decisions based on the bid-ask spread.

Convert Endpoint

The Convert Endpoint provides users with the ability to convert any amount from one metal to another or to/from USD. This feature is particularly useful for traders who need to quickly assess the value of their holdings in different currencies.

{
"success": true,
"query": {
"from": "USD",
"to": "XAU",
"amount": 1000
},
"info": {
"timestamp": 1766196239,
"rate": 0.000482
},
"result": 0.482,
"unit": "troy ounces"
}

By utilizing this endpoint, developers can create applications that facilitate seamless currency conversions, enhancing user experience and functionality.

Fluctuation Endpoint

The Fluctuation Endpoint allows users to track rate fluctuations between two specified dates. This feature is essential for developers looking to analyze how prices change over time and identify trends in the market.

{
"success": true,
"fluctuation": true,
"start_date": "2025-12-13",
"end_date": "2025-12-20",
"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 valuable insights into price movements, allowing developers to create analytical tools that help users understand market dynamics.

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

The Open/High/Low/Close (OHLC) Price Endpoint allows users to retrieve OHLC data for a specific time period. This information is crucial for traders who need to analyze price movements and make informed decisions based on historical performance.

{
"success": true,
"timestamp": 1766196239,
"base": "USD",
"date": "2025-12-20",
"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"
}

This endpoint provides a comprehensive view of price performance over time, allowing developers to create visualizations and reports that highlight significant changes in the market.

Historical LME Endpoint

The Historical LME Endpoint provides access to historical rates for LME symbols, dating back to 2008. This endpoint is particularly useful for developers looking to analyze long-term price trends and make forecasts based on historical data.

By querying this endpoint, developers can retrieve historical prices for aluminum and other metals traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME), enabling them to conduct thorough analyses and identify patterns over time.

API Key and Authentication

To access the Metals-API, users must obtain an API key, which is a unique identifier passed into the API base URL's access_key parameter. This key is essential for authenticating requests and ensuring that users have the appropriate permissions to access the desired data.

API Response Structure

The API responses delivered by the Metals-API are structured in a JSON format, making it easy for developers to parse and utilize the data in their applications. By default, all data is returned relative to USD, providing a consistent basis for comparison across different metals.

Common Use Cases

Developers can leverage the Metals-API in various ways to enhance their applications and provide valuable insights to users. Some common use cases include:

• Real-time Trading Applications: Integrating the Latest Rates Endpoint into trading platforms to provide users with up-to-date pricing information.
• Historical Analysis Tools: Utilizing the Historical Rates and Time-Series Endpoints to create analytical tools that help users identify trends and make forecasts.
• Portfolio Management: Implementing the Convert Endpoint to allow users to assess the value of their holdings in different currencies.
• Market Research: Using the News Endpoint to retrieve the latest news articles related to various metals, providing users with context for price movements.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Metals-API is an invaluable resource for developers looking to access real-time and historical pricing data for aluminum and other metals. With its comprehensive range of endpoints and innovative features, the API empowers developers to build sophisticated applications that can analyze and visualize metal prices effectively.

By leveraging the capabilities of the Metals-API, developers can create tools that enhance user experience, provide valuable insights, and facilitate informed decision-making in the metals market. As the industry continues to evolve, the importance of accurate and timely data will only grow, making the Metals-API an essential tool for anyone involved in financial modeling and trading.

For more information on how to get started with the Metals-API, refer to the Metals-API Documentation and explore the comprehensive list of supported symbols on the Metals-API Supported Symbols page. Visit the Metals-API Website to learn more about the capabilities of this powerful API.