Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE)
China's leading agricultural and industrial commodities exchange
About Dalian Commodity Exchange
The Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) is one of China's four futures exchanges and one of the world's leading agricultural and industrial commodity exchanges. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Dalian, Liaoning Province, DCE has developed into a comprehensive futures exchange offering a wide range of agricultural and industrial commodity futures contracts.
International Recognition
DCE has gained international recognition for its iron ore futures contract, which was the first Chinese futures product opened to international traders in 2018. This marked a significant step in China's financial market opening and internationalization.
Major Product Categories
Agricultural Products
- Soybean (No. 1 Soybean)
- Soybean Meal
- Soybean Oil
- Palm Oil
- Corn
- Corn Starch
- Egg
Industrial Products
- Iron Ore
- Coking Coal
- Coke
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Ethylene Glycol (EG)
Options Products
- Soybean Meal Options
- Corn Options
- Iron Ore Options
- Polypropylene Options
- Palm Oil Options
- Soybean Oil Options
Trading Hours
DCE operates on China Standard Time (CST/UTC+8). Trading hours are divided into day and night sessions:
Day Trading Session
Morning: 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM CST
Afternoon: 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM CST
Night Trading Session
Agricultural Products: 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM CST
Industrial Products: 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM CST
Iron Ore: 9:00 PM - 11:30 PM CST
Note: Trading hours may vary for specific products and are subject to change. Night trading sessions are not available on Fridays and the day before Chinese holidays.
Popular DCE Contracts
Iron Ore Futures
DCE's iron ore futures contract is a benchmark for the global iron ore market and the first Chinese futures product opened to international traders.
- Contract Size: 100 metric tons
- Price Quotation: RMB/metric ton
- Minimum Price Fluctuation: 0.5 RMB/ton
- Contract Months: Monthly contracts for the current month through the following 11 months
- Settlement: Physical delivery
Soybean Meal Futures
One of the most actively traded agricultural contracts on DCE, representing a key protein source for animal feed.
- Contract Size: 10 metric tons
- Price Quotation: RMB/metric ton
- Minimum Price Fluctuation: 1 RMB/ton
- Contract Months: January, March, May, July, August, September, November, December
- Settlement: Physical delivery
PVC Futures
A key industrial product contract representing polyvinyl chloride, an important plastic material.
- Contract Size: 5 metric tons
- Price Quotation: RMB/metric ton
- Minimum Price Fluctuation: 1 RMB/ton
- Contract Months: Monthly contracts for the current month through the following 11 months
- Settlement: Physical delivery
Market Participants
DCE serves various market participants, including:
- Commercial Hedgers: Agricultural producers, processors, and industrial manufacturers who use futures to hedge price risk
- Domestic Institutional Investors: Chinese investment funds, asset managers, and securities firms
- International Traders: For internationalized products like iron ore futures
- Individual Investors: Chinese retail traders who participate through futures commission merchants
How to Trade DCE Products
For Chinese Domestic Investors
Chinese citizens can trade DCE products through: