Pakistan Mercantile Exchange (PMEX) achieved a record traded value of Rs11.3 trillion during FY2025-26, reflecting strong growth across trading activity, investor participation, and agricultural commodity futures. The exchange also reported its highest-ever single-day traded value, highlighting increasing confidence in Pakistan’s regulated commodity futures market.
KARACHI: Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited (PMEX), the country’s only licensed commodity futures exchange, concluded FY2025-26 with record-breaking performance, posting strong growth across key business indicators and reinforcing its role in Pakistan’s regulated commodity derivatives market.
During the financial year, PMEX recorded its highest-ever total traded value of Rs11.3 trillion, representing a 22% year-on-year increase.
The exchange also reported significant growth in trading activity and investor participation, reflecting increasing confidence in regulated commodity futures trading.
PMEX Reports Record Trading Activity
According to PMEX, trading activity surged 87% year-on-year, reaching 17.2 million lots during FY2025-26.
Investor participation also strengthened, with new account registrations increasing by 58% compared to the previous financial year.
The exchange further achieved its highest-ever single-day traded value of Rs177 billion, setting a new milestone in its operational history.
These achievements underscore growing market confidence in Pakistan’s regulated commodity futures ecosystem.
CEO Highlights Landmark Year for PMEX
Commenting on the exchange’s performance, Khurram Zafar, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PMEX, described FY2025-26 as a landmark year.
He said the exchange’s strong performance reflects rising investor confidence in Pakistan’s regulated commodity futures market and the continued trust of brokers, investors, and other stakeholders.
Zafar added that PMEX remains committed to expanding agricultural futures markets, increasing investor participation, and developing transparent, efficient, and inclusive commodity markets that support Pakistan’s economic growth.
PMEX Expands Agricultural Commodity Futures
During the year, PMEX accelerated the development of Pakistan’s agricultural commodity ecosystem by expanding its range of deliverable futures contracts.
The exchange broadened its domestic futures offerings for:
- Wheat
- Rice
- Maize
- Sugar
PMEX also organized awareness campaigns, roadshows, and broker engagement initiatives to encourage participation from farmers, traders, exporters, processors, and agribusinesses.
Within weeks of launching its deliverable agricultural futures contracts, the exchange recorded trading volumes exceeding 650 metric tons of locally produced agricultural commodities, indicating encouraging market acceptance.
Retail Investor Participation Continues to Grow
PMEX further expanded access to commodity futures through its PMEX Sahulat Accounts, making it easier for retail investors to participate in regulated commodity markets.
The exchange also continued its investor education initiatives and broker capacity-building programs aimed at promoting informed participation and strengthening Pakistan’s commodity trading ecosystem.
These efforts are designed to broaden financial inclusion while improving awareness of commodity futures as a risk management and investment tool.
PMEX Plans Further Expansion
Building on the momentum achieved during FY2025-26, PMEX plans to continue expanding its product portfolio and strengthening Pakistan’s commodity futures market.
The exchange said its future strategy includes greater use of technology, continued development of agricultural commodity markets, and initiatives to increase participation from investors, farmers, traders, and commercial market participants.
By deepening Pakistan’s regulated commodity futures ecosystem, PMEX aims to support price discovery, risk management, and sustainable economic growth across the country’s agricultural and commodities sectors.