Commodity markets on growth spurt in Pakistan

KARACHI: The Pakistani commodity trading market has visibly entered into the growth momentum and is on its way to become a central hub for commodity related activities which include investing in precious metals i.e gold and silver and energy i.e crude oil. The number of new investors trading on the exchange grew more than 245% in the current year. At present there are investors in cities from Urban Pakistan like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar to smaller cities like Jhelum, Attock, Jhang, Sargodha and Rahim yar khan who are actively investing on Pakistan Mercantile Exchange.

Pakistan Mercantile Exchange has more than 320 members. Every month more brokers are activating their memberships by getting registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan. This registration gives them the ability to initiate trading in Commodities and signing up clients to invest and trade on the country’s only licensed futures trading platform, Pakistan Mercantile Exchange Limited. Last year from June 2010 – July 2011 the activated members grew about 106 %. The total number of brokers registered with PMEX in 2010 were 19 whereas this number increased to 63 in the current calendar year till date.

Pakistan Mercantile Exchange has been operational since 2007 there is are a sufficient number of case studies supporting the viability of the Business Model. The entry barriers are low and the investments required in Commodity Brokerage is also quite low hence this is has proved to be a sustainable business model if managed smartly with professional acumen. Since Pakistan Mercantile Exchange is a demutualized exchange, it has an open membership model which implies that membership is open to all concerned parties. “Each new commodity that gets listed on the Exchange brings with it the specialists of the respective field” said Samir Ahmed MD Pakistan Mercantile Exchange.

Over the last couple of years Pakistan Mercantile Exchange has managed to establish a strong footprint in managing and offering International commodities in Pakistan market - that has led to paving the path for introducing domestic commodity contracts. The investors’ participation in making the market reach to this point of success and consistent growth has been an essential ingredient in this process. This year PMEX initiated the education drive to create awareness of the Commodity market and its benefits for the Individual investors.