In a press release issued today, MCX said the market regulator has granted its approval on April 17, 2026, paving the way for the exchange to incorporate a new, wholly owned subsidiary, likely to be named “MCX Coal Exchange Ltd.” or “MCX Coal Exchange of India Ltd.”
Calling the move a “significant commitment into the energy sector and deepening commodity ecosystem”, MCX said the proposed Coal Exchange is aimed at developing a regulated, transparent, technology-driven market platform for buying and selling coal in India, designed to facilitate “efficient and robust price discovery” for the fuel.
With the new venture, MCX’s energy portfolio, which already includes highly liquid derivatives contracts on crude oil and natural gas and the electricity futures contract launched last year, will become comprehensive, the exchange noted.
Under the approved structure, MCX will initially hold 100% stake in the coal-focused subsidiary, with the “potential to join hands with strategic partners” at a later stage. The company has earmarked a capital commitment of up to Rs 100 crore to meet the minimum net worth requirements laid down in the draft Coal Exchange Rules.
The proposed exchange will offer a “transparent, standardised digital platform” for the physical delivery of coal at market-driven and robust prices, the press release said, positioning it as an institutional mechanism to bring more structure and visibility to coal trade in the country.
Once incorporated, the new company will submit an application to the Coal Controller Organisation of India “as and when prescribed”, in line with the evolving regulatory framework for coal trading platforms.MCX highlighted its existing leadership position, noting that it is India’s leading Commodity Derivatives Exchange and the largest Commodity Options Exchange globally (FIA, 2024), with a market share of about 98% in terms of the value of commodity futures contracts traded in FY 2024–25. Operational since 2003, MCX offers trading across bullion, energy, metals, agri commodities and sectoral commodity indices, and provides “dual advantages of fair price discovery and efficient risk management” to the Indian commodity ecosystem.
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The exchange said it has a pan-India presence and has forged strategic alliances with various international exchanges as well as Indian and international trade associations, reinforcing its credentials as a “dynamic platform” for commodity market participants.
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