May phase out illiquid commodities

The Forward Markets Commission (FMC) is likely to set up a timeframe to withdraw illiquid commodities from trading. Despite the absence of a consensus among stakeholders on the issue, the commodities market regulator believes that a timeline is needed to end the uncertainty.

"The FMC has received no such proposal so far, but a deadline should be introduced for all commodities being launched on the futures trading platforms," said Anupam Mishra, director of the FMC and added that any proposal on the matter would be considered.

"How long are you going to wait for a commodity to bring liquidity on the exchange? If a commodity fails to attract trading during, say, three years, then how do you expect that it would attract volumes later," asked Mishra.

Commodities such as polymer, rice, rubber, PVC, plastic, among others are illiquid on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), while aluminium ingot, furnace oil, arabica coffee, groundnut oil and nickel cathode remained untraded on the National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX). National Multi Commodity Exchange (NMCE) recorded no trade in isabgolseed, tin and zinc.