Futures Trading in Rubber: ICEX the Right Platform for Hedging

KOCHI:
Rubber is one of the earliest entrants on commodity derivative trading platform when the online futures trading began in India in 2002. Erstwhile NMCE (National Multi Commodity Exchange) now merged with ICEX (Indian Commodity Exchange) was the first exchange to commence rubber futures trading on its platform. Other commodity exchanges also tried to develop rubber contract but failed to succeed primarily due to the confidence of the traders in the time-tested delivery system of Rubber contract
traded on the ICEX platform. The confidence and trust of the traders still continue with ICEX.

So what influences the stakeholders of Rubber to choose ICEX over others? Traders from Cochin put it in this way. Javed Jalal of P.K.Group, Kanjirappilly says; “The contract specification and delivery process adopted by ICEX has evolved over the years and changed with the reality of fundamentals of the physical market. Quality assaying is the critical aspect of the rubber trade where ICEX has proved to be the benchmark of standards.”

Rubber Traders from Pala, Kerala says that they track the price of Rubber on ICEX on daily basis and makes trading decisions based on the price movement. They have become well versed with the system of delivery of ICEX and take trading position for hedging as well as delivery. Any price aberration in physical market provides them a trading opportunity to make profit through arbitrage. Rubber production in India is lower than its total consumption. Floods of 2018 in Kerala have resulted in damage to several rubber plantation estates. More than 50000 products are manufactured from rubber having widespread industrial applications. Nearly 50 percent of every auto tyre and 100 percent of all aircraft tyres are made of natural rubber.