At the end of 2024, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) announced its plan to expand the range of commodity futures and options in which qualified foreign investors (QFIs) could participate. On February 28, 2025, the Shanghai Futures Exchange, the Shanghai International Energy Exchange, the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange and the Dalian Commodity Exchange announced that starting from March 4, 2025, the range of tradable commodity futures and options for QFIs will be expanded, covering a total of 23 newly included varieties. The Guangzhou Futures Exchange also announced that starting from March 4, 2025, QFIs can participate in trading six commodity futures and options contracts listed on it. With the expansion of these tradable commodity futures and options, the total number of varieties in which QFIs can participate increases to 75.
Foreign investors can participate in domestic futures or options trading in China through two cross-border channels by: (1) obtaining a QFI qualification to trade certain futures and options contracts, and (2) participating in trading specific futures and options contracts. The table below summarizes the contracts that foreign investors can trade through both the QFI channel and the specific futures and options channel.
