MCX starts 10 new agri-contracts

India’s leading commodity bourse, Multi-Commodity Exchange (MCX), which is struggling to increase volumes in agri futures, today launched futures contracts in 10 farm commodities, including crude palm oil, mentha oil and potato.

Futures contracts in cashew kernel, coriander, crude palm oil, jeera, maize, mentha oil, potato, red chilli, rubber and sesame seed would be effective from today, the MCX said in a circular.

These agri futures contracts would mature in June, July and August, it said.

According to the circular, cashew kernel, jeera, maize, red chilli and sesame seed contracts will expire in June. Crude palm oil and potato, both Agra and Tarkeshwar variety, in July and coriander, mentha oil and rubber contracts in August.

MCX, which has an indomitable space in energy and metal futures, is presently grappling with the problem of poor volumes in agricultural contracts. Of the 26 farm commodities traded on the MCX platform, investors’ participation in 17 farm commodities having delivery in March, April, May and June remained thin, the data maintained by the exchange showed.