CME Cites FX Latam Growth in H1

CME Group says that it hit new records in its Mexican peso and Brazilian real FX futures and options in the first half of 2026, in both volume and open interest terms.

The Merc says that the two currencies combined for average daily notional volume of $2.94 billion, of which $2.2 billion was in MXN, a rise of 38% year-on-year. Open interest in Mexican peso expanded to over $6.2 billion in H1, while BRL OI surpassed $2.6 billion. ADNV in BRL was up 18% at $740 million, while options in real had a “record-setting first half”.

CME says its recently re-launched Latam NDFs on EBS had a strong start to the year, without disclosing actual numbers, the firm says combined real, Chilean and Colombian pesos and Peruvian sol NDF activity reached its highest level since 2023.

While still only a relatively small part of CME’s FX franchise, the growth in Latam futures is in contrast to the overall volume data, wherein CME’s FX futures and options saw a small 1.5% decline in activity in H1 to $94.7 billion, compared to the same period in 2025. If, however, those levels of activity are sustained, CME is still on course for its busiest FX year since 2018.

“Our record-breaking first half for Latin American FX highlights the rapidly growing demand for our Mexican peso and Brazilian real futures and options,” says Paul Houston, global head of FX products, CME Group. “Traders are increasingly choosing these exchange-traded contracts alongside their OTC activity because they offer a much more efficient way to lower costs and simplify daily operations. This strong momentum shows that as the Latin American market continues to grow, participants want reliable, transparent ways to manage their risk.”