On the morning of 11 November 2026, at the second session of the 16th National Assembly, Justice Minister Hoang Thanh Tung, authorised by the Prime Minister, presented the proposal for the Commodity Derivatives Trading Law. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Committee, delivered the verification report. The draft has 8 chapters and 57 articles and is described as the first dedicated law for this field, replacing a framework that currently rests mainly on the 2005 Commercial Law and Decrees 158/2006/ND-CP and 51/2018/ND-CP.
Why a dedicated law
According to the proposal, the law aims to create a complete, unified legal framework for commodity derivatives trading. The domestic market has grown quickly: centralised volume rose from about 58,900 contracts in 2019 to over 1.14 million in 2024 and about 1.54 million in 2025; average nominal trading value is about VND7,500 billion a day, across about 38 commodities and more than 40 contract types. With goods exports of nearly US$500 billion in 2025 and key products such as coffee, rice, pepper and cashews, price-hedging tools matter to businesses and farmers. The 2026–2030 scheme targets bringing 10 domestically produced commodities into trading by 2030, forming reference prices for 3–5 commodities and reaching 8–10 million contracts a year.
Main contents of the draft
- Two trading channels: exchange-traded trading via a Commodity Exchange, and OTC trading through intermediaries.
- Core infrastructure: the Commodity Exchange may run both spot and derivatives markets but must separate products, members and accounts; a clearing centre independent of the exchange manages margin and guarantees settlement.
- State management: the Government exercises unified management, with the Ministry of Industry and Trade as the focal agency.
- Bank participation: credit institutions and foreign bank branches may hedge, make markets and act as members within their licences; 16 banks are currently permitted to offer commodity derivatives products.
- Investor protection: classification by risk tolerance and segregated management of funds and collateral, plus rules on cross-border market linkage.
Feedback from the verifying committee
The Economic and Financial Committee broadly agreed on the need for the law, while asking for a clearer state management model, a voluntary-participation principle, an assessment of the ownership model of the exchange and clearing centre, tighter selection of foreign partners, and stronger supervision and early warning against fraud.
Key takeaways
- The 8-chapter, 57-article draft is the first dedicated law on commodity derivatives trading.
- The domestic market reached about 1.54 million contracts in 2025, about VND7,500 billion in nominal value a day.
- A clear legal framework adds price-hedging tools for farm products and export raw materials.