China’s onshore commodities markets are central to global supply chains, particularly across agriculture, petrochemicals, and bulk industrial materials. The Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) is one of China’s largest and most influential futures exchanges, offering benchmark contracts that reflect domestic demand and pricing dynamics.
Through Orient Futures Singapore, global participants can access DCE products efficiently, compliantly, and as part of a broader China market strategy.
What Is DCE?
Established in 1993, the Dalian Commodity Exchange (DCE) is a major Chinese futures exchange specialising in agricultural, petrochemical, and ferrous commodity derivatives. Several DCE contracts have been progressively internationalised, allowing qualified foreign investors to participate in China’s onshore commodity markets.
Key characteristics of DCE include:
- RMB-denominated contracts
- Physically delivered and cash-settled products
- International participation via approved access routes
- Deep linkage to China’s agricultural, steel, and petrochemical supply chains
- Benchmark status for key bulk commodities
DCE plays a critical role in price discovery for commodities where China is the world’s largest importer or consumer.
DCE Products You Can Trade
DCE focuses on commodities that are foundational to China’s industrial production and food supply chain.
| Access Types | Futures | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) | No.1 Soybeans | No.1 Soybeans Option |
| No. 2 Soybeans | No. 2 Soybeans Option | |
| Soybean Meal | Soybean Meal Option | |
| Soybean Oil | Soybean Oil Option | |
| RBD Palm Olein | RBD Palm Olein Option | |
| Iron Ore | Iron Ore Option | |
| LLDPE | LLDPE Option | |
| LLDPE Monthly Average Price | - | |
| Polypropylene | Polypropylene Option | |
| Polypropylene Monthly Average Price | - | |
| PVC | PVC Option | |
| PVC Monthly Average Price | - | |
| Ethenylbenzene | Ethenylbenzene Option | |
| Ethylene Glycol | Ethylene Glycol Option | |
| LPG | LPG Option | |
| Internationalised | No. 1 Soybean | No. 1 Soybean Option |
| No. 2 Soybean | No. 2 Soybean Option | |
| Soybean Meal | Soybean Meal Option | |
| Soybean Oil | Soybean Oil Option | |
| RDB Palm Olein | RDB Palm Olein Option | |
| Iron Ore | - |
These contracts are widely used for hedging physical exposure, managing import margins, price discovery, and relative value strategies linked to global benchmarks.
Explore our full China Market Access overview to understand the regulatory structures, participation routes, and market connectivity available to global investors.
Who Trades DCE?
DCE participants include:
- Agricultural processors and crushers
- Steel mills and iron ore importers
- Petrochemical producers
- Commodity trading houses
- Hedge funds and proprietary trading firms
- Institutional investors seeking China-related commodity exposure
For global participants, DCE provides insights into China’s domestic demand signals, particularly in iron ore and agricultural imports, where China plays a dominant global role.
How Foreign Investors Access DCE
Foreign participation in DCE is enabled through approved futures brokers and regulated access frameworks, including internationalised contract schemes and QFI structures.
With Orient Futures Singapore, global investors benefit from:
- Licensed and regulated access pathway
- Professional onboarding and compliance support
- Institutional-grade connectivity to DCE trading and clearing infrastructure
- Integration within a broader China and global markets strategy
This structure allows global participants to access China’s onshore commodity markets without establishing a mainland entity.
Why DCE Matters in a Global Trading Strategy
DCE contracts increasingly complement offshore benchmarks by:
- Reflecting China-specific supply and demand fundamentals
- Influencing global iron ore and agricultural pricing
- Providing arbitrage and trading opportunities
- Enhancing hedging precision for Asia-centric exposure
For firms active in bulk commodities, agriculture, or petrochemicals, participation in DCE is strategically significant.
Access DCE with Orient Futures Singapore
Orient Futures Singapore provides institutional-grade access to DCE as part of a comprehensive China market offering, supporting clients from onboarding through execution and beyond.
Contact us to explore how DCE fits into your China market strategy.
