Overview

NYMEX is pleased to introduce NYMEX Softs™: cocoa (CJ), coffee (KT), cotton (TT), and sugar #11 (YO) futures contracts. These contracts, which are vital to the world's economy, are available for trading virtually 24 hours a day on the CME Globex® electronic trading platform. Additionally, all transactions may be submitted solely for clearing through NYMEX ClearPort® and every transaction is backed by the AA+ rated NYMEX clearinghouse. All NYMEX and COMEX clearing members may trade and clear these products.

All trading, transaction, and clearing fees will be waived through June 2007. NYMEX Softs are financially-settled contracts, and each contract month terminates at the close of business preceding the first notice day of the leading benchmark contract.

To learn more about CME Globex, visit www.nymex.com/globex.

Benefits of Trading NYMEX Softs™

Buy and sell contracts while enjoying six months without trading, transaction, or clearing fees.

The contracts are transacted on cutting edge trading technology through the CME Globex® electronic trading platform and cleared by the world class NYMEX clearinghouse. Electronic trading is available virtually 24 hours a day, on more than half a million individual terminals connected to CME Globex, creating more timely and accurate trade execution. Inter-exchange cross margining is offered to every user.

Getting Started

Trading on CME Globex®

To begin trading NYMEX Softs on CME Globex, please view our resources page. Market participants who have not established a connection with CME Globex may make arrangements with their clearing firm or contact CME Globex Services at (312) 648-4777 or by email at globexservices@cme.com. A list of independent software vendors that offer connectivity to CME Globex can be found here.

Clearing on NYMEX ClearPort®

There are several key advantages to submitting bilateral trades through NYMEX ClearPort, including mitigating counterparty credit risk, broader risk management, less risk of counterparty default, and a neutral third party to process trades. All NYMEX Softs futures contracts submitted on NYMEX ClearPort will be cleared by the NYMEX clearinghouse.

Applicants are required to register themselves with a clearing member or firm. NYMEX ClearPort clearing is available from 6:00 PM Sunday through 5:15 PM Friday New York time, with a 45-minute break between 5:15 PM and 6:00 PM on Mondays through Thursdays. More information about NYMEX ClearPort clearing is available here.