Intercontinental Exchange reports higher September and third-quarter trading volumes

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ICE higher September, Q3 volumes

Highlights

Intercontinental Exchange reports September average daily volume up 51% year over year and third-quarter volume up 31%, with open interest rising 13%.
September saw energy average daily volume up 26%—Brent rising 51%, TTF gas up 50%, and natural gas up 24%—while financial contracts surged 81%.
Agriculture and metals September average daily volume climbed 44%—cotton up 135%, cocoa up 53%—with sugar open interest reaching a record 2.5 million lots on Sept. 11.

September and quarter statistics update

As reported by Intercontinental Exchange, the company publishes its September 2026 trading volume and related revenue statistics on its investor relations website, showing total average daily volume in September up 51% year over year and open interest up 13%. For the third quarter, total average daily volume rises 31% from a year earlier.

In energy, September average daily volume increases 26% year over year, led by a 29% rise in oil and a 24% gain in natural gas. Brent average daily volume climbs 51%, gasoil rises 25%, TTF gas advances 50% and Asia gas grows 38%, while total energy open interest is up 4%.

Agriculture and metals post September average daily volume growth of 44%, with sugar up 44%, cocoa up 53% and cotton up 135%. ICE also reports sugar open interest reaches a record 2.5 million lots on Sept. 11.

Financial contracts record some of the strongest gains in September, with average daily volume up 81% and open interest up 27%. Interest rate contracts rise 95%, including Euribor up 84%, SONIA up 119% and gilts up 37%, while total financial futures open interest reaches a record 17.5 million lots on Sept. 10 and interest rate futures open interest hits a record 15 million lots the same day.

Growth driven by energy and rates markets

Ben Jackson, president of ICE, says the exchange's contract mix is designed to help customers manage volatility across financial markets, agriculture and energy. He says the breadth of ICE's energy contracts continues to support platform growth as customers adjust their hedging needs.

Third-quarter figures reflect that broader trend, with energy average daily volume up 18% year over year, including Brent up 38% and TTF gas up 39%. Agriculture and metals average daily volume jumps 57% in the quarter, led by sugar up 75%, cocoa up 68% and cotton up 88%.

Financials average daily volume rises 45% in the third quarter, supported by a 49% increase in interest rate contracts. Euribor grows 40%, SONIA rises 63%, MSCI-linked equity index contracts gain 15%, and NYSE equity options average daily volume increases 29%, indicating continued customer demand for hedging and risk management tools across asset classes.

In our earlier article on ICE’s expansion of freight hedging markets, we covered how rising volatility in global shipping lanes is lifting trading activity and pushing market participants to seek more targeted tools to manage freight-rate risk. We noted that ICE responded by launching new tanker and container freight futures and options tied to key disrupted routes, broadening its freight complex to help customers hedge transportation costs alongside commodity exposure.

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