Commodity Market Trading Time in India

In India, the commodity market timings are different for different types of commodities. The commodity exchange takes place every weekday, from Monday to Friday. Declared holidays by the exchange are notified to the traders in advance.

The trading happens in two sessions:
1. Morning sessions: 9:00 AM to 5 PM
2. Evening sessions: 5 pm to either 11:30 PM or 11:55 PM

Below is the list of today's commodity market timings in India:

What is Commodity Trading?

Stocks are not the only thing people invest in, trade, and earn money from. If done carefully, commodity markets can give some very promising returns. Commodities, being the building blocks of any economy, are widely traded across the globe.

The meaning of commodity trading time in India for buying and selling of various commodities and their derivative products. Let us break this definition and understand every part of it in detail to make it more lucid.

First, the commodities are traded in bulk. Unlike shares, you cannot buy as many units as you want. Instead, you have to buy the commodities in many multiples of that lot. The prices of these commodities are set according to the market forces of demand and supply.

Commodity Market Time in India

Commodity Market Opening Time

All the commodity markets open at the same time, i.e. 9:00 am. So from 9 am onwards, you can start trading in all commodities.

Commodity Market Closing Time

The commodity market has different closing times in India for different commodities.

• Non-Agri commodities trade's end time is 11:30 p.m.
• For Agri commodities such as cotton & Kapas, the market closes at 9:00 pm.
• And for all other commodities, the market closes at 5:00 p.m.
• All the Intraday position square-off time is 25 minutes before the market closes, and the trade modification can be done 15 minutes after the market closes, i.e. 11:45 p.m.

Traditional banks such as HDFC Securities and ICIC Direct also provide commodity trading facilities.

In simple we can say all the commodities start at 9:00 am and end at 11:30/11:55 pm.

History of Commodity Trading?

Organised commodity trading began in India with the setting up of the Bombay Cotton Trade Association in 1875. However, the foundation of the commodities market was laid way before that, way before any other country.

The Bombay Cotton Exchange was established in 1893, which eventually led to the establishment of futures markets in edible oilseeds, jute and other jute products.

So, now that we know the remarkable history of the Indian Commodity Markets, let us dive into what commodity trading is and why there's so much buzz about it these days.

What is Traded in the Commodity Market?

The commodities traded in the Indian Commodities Market can be classified as agricultural and non-agricultural commodities. The non-agricultural commodities are sub-classified into three categories: bullion, energy, and base metals.

Different commodities that are regularly bought and sold on the exchanges are:

• Agriculture: Black pepper, cardamom, castor seed, cotton, palm oil, kapas, wheat, paddy, chana, bajra, barley, sugar, and many more
• Bullion: Gold and silver
• Energy: Crude oil and natural gas
• Base Metals: Aluminum, copper, lead, nickel, zinc
• The top traded commodities in India are gold, silver, copper, and cotton.

Types of Commodities Markets

There are two types of commodity market which are as follow

• Spot Market: These are also called physical markets, or cash markets, where traders exchange commodities for instant delivery.
• Derivatives Market: It includes futures and forwards. It allows users to trade the commodities at a predetermined price on a fixed date. The traded commodity is delivered physically upon the expiry of the contract.

Commodity Exchanges in India

Commodities are exchanged through MCX, NCDEX, etc. MCX and NCDEX are the most commonly used commodity trading platforms in India.

• Multi Commodity Exchange: Established in 2003, MCX is widely used for non-agriculture commodities trading.
• National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange: Founded in 2003, it is mainly used for trading agricultural commodities.

Participants of the Commodities Market

Participants play a very important role in maintaining the quality of the markets. The participants in the commodities markets can be mainly classified into Hedgers and Speculators.

• Speculators: They are not directly involved in the production and use of the commodities but are present in the market for short periods to make gains through speculating the prices. They make use of the momentum present in the market and ensure liquidity.
• Hedgers: These are generally the people who have an underlying in the commodity they are trading. They trade in those commodities to eliminate the risk of price fluctuations of that specific commodity in the market. For example, a company that makes cotton products as raw material is hedged in cotton for a fixed period. It remained indifferent to the price fluctuations of that time.

These participants form pillars of the market and jointly determine the market's direction.

How to Trade in Commodities Market

Just like you need a Demat account to trade in stocks, you need a Demat account to trade in commodities. There are numerous options available for choosing a broker to open a Demat account with. However, you need to ensure that you open your account with a reputed broker that offers competitive rates and less brokerage. You need to carefully analyse and choose a broker who can provide higher margins.

Online Commodity Trading

Similar to equity and securities, you can also do online trading of Commodities. The commodity is a very lucrative asset class to trade in. Again similar to NSE and BSE exchanges which are generally used for trading shares.

NCDEX (National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Limited) and MCX (Multi Commodity Exchange of India Limited) are the most popular exchanges traded commodities in India.

The trading market for commodities works differently than the equity market. Unlike equities, the commodities are traded with margin requirements which change according to market fluctuations.

Why Should You Trade in Commodities?

• First of all, buying commodities like gold and silver is the best way to diversify your investment portfolio.
• Secondly, Commodities provide risk-adjusted returns. Unlike equity commodities, prices rise when equity markets indicate red returns.
• The commodity market is inflation-proof; as money loses its value from inflation, the prices of commodities tend to rise during inflation.

Which Broker to Open Your Account With?

Choice India provides its account holders with cutting-edge tools for stock trading for ease of trading for clients. With Choice, investing and trading in the commodity market will be easier for seasoned investors if you are a beginner and extremely intuitive.

FAQ

Timing of MCX Market

Monday to Friday from 09:00 A.M. to 11:30 P.M.

India Stock Market Opening Time

The Indian stock market Opening time:

Pre-opening Time -  9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
Normal Timing      -  9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Closing Time          -  9:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.