NCDEX launches futures contract for small-grain sugar

MUMBAI: National Commodity & Derivatives Exchange Ltd ( NCDEX) today said it has launched futures contracts for small-grain sugar (SUGAR S) that will provide additional risk management tool for the industry.

Trading in Sugar S began today with six contracts being offered; starting from contracts expiring in April 2015 to September 2015. Kolhapur is the main delivery centre, with Belgaum, Solapur, Sangli, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi being the additional delivery centres, a statement issued here said.

NCDEX already offers Sugar M futures contracts on its platform. With the addition of this new Sugar S contract, a large portion of sugar being produced and traded in India will be represented on the exchange platform.

The additional delivery centres of Delhi and Kolkata have been included to provide an opportunity to the sugar value chain participants in these locations to hedge their physical commitments and to deliver on Exchange platform as well, it said.

For a transparent and efficient settlement, the deliveries will be facilitated through COMTRACK® - the electronic accounting system of the Exchange.

NCDEX MD & CEO Samir Shah said: "India is the world's largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar and about 60% of total production and consumption is of Sugar S grade. Therefore prices of NCDEX Sugar S futures hold significant importance in the global market. NCDEX is an established benchmark for sugar prices and prices of Sugar S will play an important role for entire value chain."