Winnipeg Commodity Exchange Trade During The Month Of June Continues At Traditional Levels

Winnipeg futures trade during the month of June declined 21.5% to 161,325 contracts compared to the same month one year ago. With the Exchange For Physicals (EFPs) included, June 2002 futures trading volume totaled 168,824 contracts.

Total futures open interest levels as of June 30, 2002 were 57,398 contracts, 48.3% below the 111,113 contracts open on June 30, 2001. Activity in western barley futures remained relatively unchanged for the month of June, at 18,293 contracts compared to the 19,719 contracts traded in the same month one year earlier.

Crop year-to-date total futures pit trade in 2001/02 was down 22.3% at 1,986,990 contracts compared to 2,556,201 contracts in the 2000/01 crop year.

WCE total futures and options pit trade combined declined 23.7% from June 2001, totaling 163,215 contracts. Flaxseed, canola and feed wheat futures were the main factors behind the overall decline seen in total pit trade for the month of June. Total futures and options open interest levels as of June 30, 2002 were 60,369 contracts, compared to the 132,982 contracts open on June 30, 2001.

Crop year-to-date futures and options pit trade for 2001/02 reached 2,037,533 contracts, below the 2,644,049 contracts traded during the same period of the 2000/01 crop year.