NSE to Introduce Dated Brent Crude Futures Trading from April 13, 2026

The National Stock Exchange (NSE) is to introduce Dated Brent Crude Oil (Platts) futures for trading from April 13, 2026, following approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).  

As per news reports, the contracts will be available in the commodity derivatives segment and form part of the exchange’s expansion in energy-linked products. 

Contract Design and Trading Timings 

The futures will trade under the symbol “BRCRUDEOIL” and will be listed on a monthly basis. Market hours will run from 9:00 am to 11:30 pm or 11:55 pm, depending on US daylight saving time. 

The contracts are cash-settled, with no provision for physical delivery. Settlement will be based on the monthly average of Dated Brent assessments published by S&P Global Energy (Platts), converted into rupees using the Reserve Bank of India’s USD-INR reference rate. 

Link to Global Oil Benchmarks 

The contract is tied to the Platts Dated Brent benchmark, which is used in pricing physical crude oil transactions globally. NSE stated that the contract will follow the quality specifications defined by Platts. 

The introduction provides a domestic instrument aligned with international crude pricing. Indian participants have so far depended on overseas markets or alternative benchmarks to hedge exposure to global oil price movements. 

Market Context and Segment Expansion 

NSE currently accounts for around 16% of trading in WTI crude contracts and has indicated a target of crossing 30% share by the next expiry cycle. The addition of Brent-linked futures is expected to widen participation in its energy segment. 

The exchange has also outlined plans to introduce Indian natural gas contracts in the coming quarter, indicating a broader push in commodity derivatives. 

This places NSE in more direct competition with Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX), which continues to hold a dominant position in commodity trading. 

Read More: LPG Price in India Today, March 30: Check Rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and More Cities! 

Conclusion 

The launch adds a globally referenced crude benchmark to NSE’s offerings, providing a domestic route for tracking and hedging international oil price movements. 

Disclaimer: This blog has been written exclusively for educational purposes. The securities mentioned are only examples and not recommendations. This does not constitute a personal recommendation/investment advice. It does not aim to influence any individual or entity to make investment decisions. Recipients should conduct their own research and assessments to form an independent opinion about investment decisions.   
 
Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.