CME Group Reports Record Volumes in WTI Crude Oil Futures

As U.S. crude oil exports reach new heights, CME Group reports record volumes for April 2024 in its WTI Crude Oil futures.

Global market participants are rapidly increasing their demand for WTI-linked export contracts to manage their price exposure, reinforcing WTI’s position as a global benchmark.

Surge in U.S. Crude Oil Exports

Peter Keavey, Global Head of Energy at CME Group, highlighted the surge in U.S. crude oil exports. He stated, “As U.S. crude oil exports hit new records, commercial demand for our WTI-linked export contracts is also growing rapidly as global market participants manage their price exposure. WTI’s position as a global benchmark has never been stronger.”

Record Achievements in April 2024

CME Group’s monthly metrics for April 2024 reveal significant achievements, which include:

• Record ADV of 17.8K contracts, up 54% year-over-year
• Record ADV for WTI Midland contracts of 7.1K, up 73% year-over-year
• Record ADV for WTI Houston contracts of 10.7K, up 43% year-over-year
• Record average daily open interest (ADOI) of 612K contracts per day, up 45% year-over-year
• Record April ADOI for WTI Midland contracts of 279.9K contracts, up 37% year-over-year
• Record April ADOI of WTI Houston of 332.8K contracts, up 53% year-over-year
• Record single-day open interest of a combined 657,889 contracts on April 29, 2024

Conclusion

The record volumes reported by CME Group for April 2024 highlight the growing global demand for WTI-linked export contracts. This surge in demand, coupled with the record U.S. crude oil exports, underscores WTI’s strengthening position as a global benchmark. As the market continues to evolve, these trends are expected to persist, providing significant opportunities for market participants.