CME Group Reports Record Trading Volumes for September and Q3

CME Group, a derivatives marketplace, reported new records for average daily volume (ADV) in September and the third quarter of 2026. September's ADV reached 31.8 million contracts, a 22% increase year-over-year, while Q3 ADV stood at 29.4 million contracts, up 16% from the previous year.

Both the September and Q3 records surpassed previous volume highs set in 2024. Notably, interest rate and agricultural products saw significant volume growth during both periods. Interest rate ADV rose 22% to 16.2 million contracts in September, with U.S. Treasury futures and options ADV increasing by 42%.

Equity index trading also saw an increase, with ADV growing 16% to 8.1 million contracts in September. The popularity of micro-sized contracts contributed to this, with Micro E-mini Nasdaq-100 futures volume, for example, jumping 73%.

Energy contracts ADV improved by 37% to 3.1 million contracts, and agricultural products ADV increased by 29% to 1.9 million contracts. Trading volumes for foreign exchange and metals derivatives also saw substantial growth.

International trading increased by 25%, with ADV for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region rising 22%. BrokerTec's average daily notional value (ADNV) grew 18% to $1.135 trillion in September.