Because most futures contracts have a delivery period (or an uncertain period, such as LME March copper, which will be explained later), the longest contract period usually does not exceed one year. In order to facilitate research, many market quotation systems have set up "continuous" contracts.

For example, Shanghai copper is continuous, Shanghai copper is continuous, Shanghai copper is continuous, Shanghai copper is continuous, or corn is continuous and beans are continuous. The continuous contract here does not refer to a specific contract, but a change. For example, XX is the first trading contract after the current delivery, XX is the third trading contract after the current delivery, and so on.

As for LME (London Metal Exchange) March copper and other contracts, they are continuous contracts with no delivery period and no specific delivery date. Traders can choose any date for delivery. Its quotation is only used as the basic standard of insurance premium on delivery.

I hope it helps you.