Commodity Market Timings in India

In India, commodity trading takes place through exchanges like the Multi-Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) and the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX).

These exchanges follow specific commodity trading hours that align with domestic and global markets.

This article explains commodity market timings, trading sessions, exchange-wise trading hours, commodity-wise schedules, and the best time to trade in the commodities market.

What are the Commodity Market Timings in India?

Commodity market timings refer to the official trading hours during which investors and traders can buy or sell commodity contracts on Indian exchanges. These timings vary depending on the exchange and the type of commodity traded.

Indian commodity exchanges operate in two sessions:

• Morning session: This session runs from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Evening session: This session runs from 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM during daylight saving time or till 11:55 in non-daylight saving time (DST).

The evening session allows Indian traders to react to international market developments, especially movements in the US and European markets. Commodity trading hours may also change slightly during daylight saving time adjustments in international markets.

Daylight saving time (DST) in trading refers to seasonal adjustments where the US and European markets push their clocks forward by one hour during the summer months.

The commodity market in India trades 5 days a week, from Monday to Friday, and remains closed on Saturday and Sunday.

Also Read: Forex Market Timings in India

Ideal Time For Commodity Trading in India

The trading time for commodities in India is different from the trading hours of the share market. Commodities exchanges like MCX follow a separate timing schedule due to their linkage with the global commodity market.

Here is a brief overview of the commodity trading timings followed in India.

Pre-Market Session

The pre-market session in MCX runs for 14 minutes, from 8:45 AM to 8:59 AM. During these 14 minutes, traders are allowed to review, modify, or cancel their pending orders before regular trading begins.

The pre-market session helps traders to make last-minute adjustments based on overnight global market developments, news, and changes in commodity prices.

Normal Trading Hours

Normal trading hours or regular trading hours in the MCX commodity exchange are divided into two sessions. The morning session operates from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the evening session operates from 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM or 11:55 PM based on daylight savings time.

The normal trading hours in the NDCEX exchange are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This exchange is popular for trading in agricultural commodities.

Muhurat Trading Session

The Muhurat trading session is a special one-hour session conducted on Diwali, usually held from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM. Similar to the equity segment, commodity exchanges like MCX also conduct a Muhurat trading session on Diwali.

However, the actual timings may vary, and the exchanges separately announce the official schedule before Diwali.

Also Read: MCX Gold Trading

Trading Hours for Major Commodities Exchange in India

Here are the commodity trading timings in MCX, NCDEX, NSE, and BSE exchanges.

Trading Hours for Major Commodities in MCX

Here is a list of actively traded commodities in MCX. They all operate in the morning session from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and the evening session from 5:00 PM to 11:30 on active DST days.

• Gold
• Silver
• Crude oil
• Natural Gas
• Copper
• Zinc
• Nickel
• Lead
• Aluminum

Trading Holidays in the Commodity Market

Commodity exchanges remain closed on national holidays, weekends, and special exchange-declared holidays. Trading holidays may vary depending on the type of commodity segment.

For example:

• Agricultural commodity trading may remain closed on additional regional holidays.
• Evening sessions may sometimes remain closed on specific public holidays.

Commodity exchanges release annual trading holiday calendars before the beginning of every year. Traders should always verify the latest holiday schedule from exchange websites before planning commodity trading activities.

Factors Affecting Commodity Market Timings

Here are a few common factors that affect the commodity market timings in India:

• Global Market Influence:

International commodity exchanges influence Indian commodity trading hours because traders respond actively to overseas market developments.

• Daylight Saving Changes:

Commodity market closing timings slightly change during daylight saving adjustments, followed by European and US financial markets.

• Commodity Type:

Agricultural commodities usually follow shorter trading hours, while globally traded metals and energy commodities receive extended evening sessions.

• Exchange Regulations:

Indian commodity exchanges determine trading hours according to regulatory guidelines established by market authorities and exchange frameworks.

• Liquidity Requirements:

Exchanges extend commodity trading hours to improve liquidity and support active participation from domestic and international traders.

Best Time For Commodity Market Trading

Commodity market trading becomes easy when you approach the market during the following trading hours.

• Opening Hours:

Commodity markets witness sharp price movements during opening hours because traders react quickly to overnight global market developments.

• Overlapping Trading Hours:

Commodity trading activity increases significantly when Indian markets overlap with European and American commodity market trading sessions.

• Economic Data Release Hours:

Commodity prices may fluctuate rapidly during inflation, employment, and interest rate data releases, affecting global market sentiment.

• Seasonal Factors:

Commodity prices change seasonally because weather conditions, festivals, harvest cycles, and industrial demand patterns continuously influence market trends.

• Volatile Periods:

Geopolitical tensions, inventory reports, and central bank decisions can create significant volatility and short-term trading opportunities in commodity markets.