Derivatives marketplace CME Group announced it will launch micro-sized grain and oilseed futures contracts on 24 February 2025, pending regulatory approval.
CME Group: Oilseed Futures and Micro-Sized Grains to Launch on February 24
The firm revealed that the new contracts will be cash-settled and one-tenth the size of CME Group’s standard Corn, Wheat, Soybean, Soybean Oil, and Soybean Meal futures.
John Ricci, Managing Director and Global Head of Agriculture at CME Group said: “Our benchmark grain and oilseed futures products are the most liquid and highly-utilized markets in global agriculture today.
“These smaller-sized contracts will provide additional flexibility for market participants to manage their agricultural portfolios with greater precision.”
The new contracts are said to have drawn support from brokers and trading platforms, which see them as an opportunity to attract more participants.
Steve Sanders, EVP of Marketing and Product Development at Interactive Brokers noted that the lower capital requirements of micro futures make them a cost-effective way for both retail and institutional traders to access futures markets.
Samuel Klein, Product Owner for Futures and Options at Saxo, echoed this sentiment, stating that the contracts will help retail investors diversify their portfolios. Similarly, Phillip Nova CEO Teyu Che Chern described the launch as an important step in broadening access to agricultural trading.
CME Group’s expansion into micro agriculture futures is expected to enhance participation in global agricultural markets.
