Euronext plans evening grain futures trading from April
Late session to smooth market reaction to US crop reports
11 March 2026
1 minute read
By: Euronext expects an upcoming evening session for its grain futures to help the market react more smoothly to major end-of-day events like US government crop reports, Reuters reported, citing the exchange's head of agricultural commodities on Tuesday.
The late session, to launch on April 13, is part of efforts to expand further Euronext's wheat-led commodities business.
In an interview with Reuters, Robin Maisonneuve also said:
Euronext revised the format of the evening session to take account of commercial operators who do not want to trade then. The 8:15 p.m. CET (1915 GMT) close will ensure liquidity by aligning with Chicago hours.
The later hours should avert a rush to trade on events like US Department of Agriculture reports or import tender results that occur at the end of the European day.
Euronext will monitor for evening price movements that are erratic or do not reflect fundamentals.
The exchange is in ongoing dialogue with the market about the Black Sea grain export region but cautious about new products given overlap with its existing contracts.
Euronext's planned launch of dairy and container shipping futures this year reflects gaps in the market it thinks it can fill.
The exchange will keep open its illiquid durum wheat contract. But the focus is now encouraging industry use of index-linked physical contracts, before actively promoting its futures.
Options volumes have increased so far this year, helped by a scheme to have on-screen bids, in a push to reverse a fall last year during a low-volatility period.
The Middle East conflict has led to an uptick in commodity volumes but within usual ranges.
