Oman crude achieves robust growth in trading at DME

Oman crude achieves robust growth in trading at DME

Muscat: The remarkable performance of the Dubai Mercantile Exchange (DME) during 2023 has strengthened its standing on the global level. Its flagship Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract, DME Oman, now represents 36 per cent of the Middle Eastern crude heading to the Asian market - a phenomenal growth from just 8 per cent in 2007.

DME, the premier international energy futures exchange in the Middle East, also recorded an impressive increase in total volume and physical delivery in 2023 compared to last year, cementing its position as the main crude oil benchmark in the East of Suez market.

DME’s front-month trading volume in 2023 surged to 800 million barrels, surpassing the 2022 figure of 752 million barrels and attaining the highest levels since 2018. Similarly, the physical delivery volume for 2023 rose to 210 million barrels from the 2022 count of 181 million barrels, achieving another highest since 2018. Furthermore, DME’s total physical exposure in 2023 rose to 262 million barrels from 214 million in 2022.

Commenting on the exceptional growth in trade volumes, Raid Al-Salami, Managing Director, DME, said: “In 2023, we experienced a dynamic period marked by notable achievements in business performance and strategic collaborations. These successes have significantly strengthened our