KARACHI: Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited (PMEX) recorded its highest-ever annual traded value of PKR 11.3 trillion during the fiscal year 2025–26, reflecting strong growth in trading activity, investor participation and agricultural commodity futures.
According to PMEX, the country’s only licensed and regulated commodity futures exchange, the total traded value increased 22% year-on-year, while trading volume surged 87% to 17.2 million lots during the financial year.
The exchange also reported a 58% increase in new investor accounts compared to the previous fiscal year and achieved its highest-ever single-day traded value of PKR 177 billion.
Commenting on the performance, PMEX Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Khurram Zafar said the results reflected growing confidence in Pakistan’s regulated commodity futures market and continued trust from investors, brokers and other stakeholders.
He said the exchange remains focused on expanding agricultural futures, increasing investor participation and developing transparent and efficient commodity markets that support Pakistan’s economic growth.
Agricultural futures market expands
During FY2025–26, PMEX expanded its domestic deliverable agricultural futures by introducing additional contracts for wheat, rice, maize and sugar.
The exchange said it also organized awareness campaigns, roadshows and broker engagement programmes to encourage participation from farmers, traders, processors, exporters and agribusinesses.
According to PMEX, more than 650 metric tons of locally produced agricultural commodities were traded within weeks of launching the new deliverable agricultural contracts, indicating growing acceptance of regulated agricultural futures.
Retail investor participation grows
PMEX also expanded access for retail investors through its PMEX Sahulat Accounts while continuing investor education and broker capacity-building initiatives aimed at promoting informed participation in commodity futures trading.
The exchange said it plans to further expand its product portfolio, strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural commodity ecosystem and leverage technology to support broader participation in the country’s regulated commodity futures market.
PMEX said these initiatives are intended to contribute to sustainable economic growth by improving market transparency and expanding access to regulated commodity trading.
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