Saudi Arabia: Relations between the Middle East and China’s derivatives markets are set to deepen following a new cooperation agreement signed between the Gulf Mercantile Exchange and the Shanghai Futures Exchange.

Under the agreement, GME — the Middle East’s leading international energy and commodities futures exchange — and SHFE — one of China’s primary commodity trading platforms — will collaborate on a range of strategic initiatives.

These include joint product development, market research, the exchange of insights on market trends, and investor education efforts, according to a joint statement released by both exchanges.

“This partnership is a key step toward strengthening alignment between China and the Gulf in commodities trading,” said Raid Al-Salami, managing director of GME.

“We value our cooperation with SHFE and look forward to the opportunities this agreement will unlock for both sides.”

The agreement comes on the heels of a strong performance year for GME. In January, the exchange reported a 12 percent increase in total trading volume for 2024, reaching 1.32 million contracts — up from 1.18 million the previous year. Front-month contract volumes surged 20 percent to a record 959,565 contracts, while total physical exposure rose by 11 percent, reflecting GME’s commitment to enhancing market accessibility and supporting sustainable growth.

Formerly known as the Dubai Mercantile Exchange, GME has a long-standing reputation as a key player in the region’s commodities sector. Established with the vision of creating internationally accessible derivatives markets for Middle East commodities, the exchange has continued to evolve in scope and ambition.

A major milestone came in 2024 when the Saudi Tadawul Group acquired a third strategic stake in the exchange. This acquisition led to a rebranding from DME to GME, signaling a renewed focus on building out commodity markets in Saudi Arabia and across the wider GCC as part of a long-term strategic roadmap.