Are you thinking of trading with commodities in India? MCX (the Multi Commodity Exchange) is the only exchange that handles a humongous 95% of commodity trading in the country. 

People come here to buy and sell essentials such as gold, oil, and farm products. The kicker is that timing is everything. Market timing is a common blunder among traders, and there is so much trading in MCX that many traders get fooled by it. 

The good news is that it isn’t that difficult to figure out when to trade gold, oil, or agricultural products. 

Let’s take a closer look at commodity market timing in India. You’ll learn when the markets open and close, so you will know the best time to make your moves. Let’s jump in.

What Makes Up India’s Commodity Markets?

India subscribes to special segments and key exchanges for its commodity markets. Each handles different types of trading.

• The Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) deals with non-agricultural items, including gold, silver, copper, oil, etc. MCX assists industrial market traders in managing their risks.
• The National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (NCDEX) focuses on farming products. Cotton, wheat, and spices are traded, plus farmers and food businesses can lock in prices for their goods.
• The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) oversees both exchanges to ensure that all the right things are done and done well.

This split system works well. NCDEX organizes farm products, while MCX deals with industrial materials. A setup like this allows for better trading and can prevent confusion between buyers and sellers.

When Can You Trade? Daily Schedule

Commodity trading in India runs Monday to Friday in three main time blocks:

Here’s a representation of these timings:

Session Name	Start Time (IST)	End Time (IST)	Notes
Pre-open Session	8:45 AM	8:59 AM	Order placement & cancellation only
Morning Session	9:00 AM	5:00 PM	Primary session for most commodities
Evening Session	5:00 PM	11:30 PM	Standard session–extends to 11:55 PM during US Daylight Saving Time

• Pre-open Session (8:45 AM to 8:59 AM): This 15-minute window lets traders set up or cancel their orders before trading starts.
• Morning Session (9:00 AM to 5:00 PM): This is the main trading time. Most buying and selling happens here, especially for farming products.
• Evening Session (5:00 PM to 11:30 PM): This extra time is mostly for trading non-farm items like gold and oil. The closing time extends to 11:55 PM when the US is on Daylight Saving Time

Each time block serves different needs. 

For example, if you want to trade wheat, you’ll trade in the morning session because that’s when most farmers and food companies are active in the market. 

But if you’re trading gold, you might want to trade in the evening when both Indian and international gold markets are open.

This schedule helps traders pick the best times to buy and sell.

Trading Hours for Different Products

You can trade different items at different times in India’s markets:

• Gold and Silver: You can trade these during the morning (9 AM to 5 PM) and evening (5 PM to 11:30 PM) hours. This lets traders work with both Indian and international markets.
• Oil and Natural Gas: These trade into late evening (until 11:55 PM when the US is on daylight saving). This timing helps traders respond to global news that affects prices.
• Farm Products: These only trade in the morning session (9 AM to 5 PM). Since these items need to be physically delivered and can spoil, morning-only trading helps keep prices stable and tied to local supply.

These different trading times help each product get the best prices. The schedule matches when these items are most actively traded around the world.

Trading on Weekends and Holidays

There are no commodity markets available in India Monday through Friday. The only times you won’t be able to trade are on Saturdays and Sundays—they are closed on these days so brokers can carry out clearing and paperwork and do system updates.

Apart from those, the markets are closed during certain holidays of the year, including national holidays and religious festivals. During such situations, the whole market can be closed, or only the morning or evening could be affected.

Muhurat trading is a one-hour session held on a single special trading day during Diwali. Many traders join because it’s considered lucky in Indian culture.

Do you want to know when the market is closed? You just need to look at their holiday calendar on their MCX and NCDEX websites. This helps you never miss a trading day or will show up when the market is closed.

How Indian Markets Connect with Global Trading

The Indian commodity market is perfectly timed to synchronize with the world exchanges. In the evening session, the US trading hours for goods such as oil and gold overlap with the trading hours in India.

• Quick Reactions: If the price in the US market suddenly changes, Indian traders can enter their trades during the evening session.
• Better Prices: Higher liquidity is achieved because more people are trading during these overlapping hours. This improves pricing and trading in general.

This global overlap, in short, ensures that Indian commodity prices track worldwide trends, at least partly improving the market’s working environment.

How Currency Affects Commodity Trading

The RBI reports that the rupee depreciated by roughly 3% against the US dollar in 2024. This means that shifts in exchange rates can have a pronounced effect on the prices of commodities like gold and oil.

If you are trading commodities such as gold or oil, you do not only monitor the commodity price, you also need to keep yourself updated on the Indian rupee and US dollar exchange rate.

• Exchange Rate Impact: A weaker rupee means you require more rupees to buy the same amount of a commodity, which can significantly affect prices.
• Currency Derivatives: Currency derivatives, which are traded in the NSE and BSE, help traders manage this risk. These financial tools help protect against the negative incidence of adverse currency movements.

So, while trading oil, you may also use currency derivatives to shield against rupee fluctuations. This proves how closely connected the markets are in terms of currency and commodity trading.

Best Times to Trade Based on Your Strategy

The right market hours should match your trading strategy. Here’s what you need to know:

• Morning Trading: Because many orders come in right at the open, morning trading offers the best liquidity. It’s good for very quick buys and sells where the price tends to stay the same. MCX data highlights that the first hour of the morning session experiences a 15% higher trading volume, making it ideal for entering or exiting positions quickly if you’re chasing liquidity.
• High Volatility Periods: This is true at any time, but especially after the market opens (9:00 AM) or right before it closes (5:00 PM). If you are willing to take a bit of risk, these times can be great for profit.
• Global News: Pay attention to the news on the international economic sphere. But prices are at the mercy of events in global markets, the more the different markets overlap in their trading periods.
• Arbitrage Opportunities: If you have markets that do overlap then small price differences can provide an opportunity for you to profit through buying one and selling the other.

Knowing these timing details can be very helpful for making smarter trades and managing risk better.

Special Trading Days

Indian markets have some unique, cool trading days associated with Indian culture. The big one is the Diwali Muhurat Trading Session, a special one-hour window during the Diwali festival.

• Muhurat Trading: Exchanges open a one-hour session on Diwali, which is considered especially auspicious. Of course, many traders tune in, hoping the good vibes will lead to profit.
• Other Special Sessions: Some important days on which other special sessions are sometimes held are for cultural or regulatory reasons. When the regular market is closed, short sessions present extra trading opportunities.

They highlight that Indian markets are rich and flavorful, with tradition imparted to modern trading, making all tastes something very friendly to all traders.

Tips to Help You Trade Better

If you are just starting out commodity trading, you can attempt following a few easy tips.

• Double-Check Trading Hours: It is always important to know the official trading hours on the MCX or NCDEX websites. The world, or at least things, can change, and you do not want to miss a beat.
• Match Your Strategy: Sticking to morning hours (9 AM to 5 PM) is fine for those who trade crops. Both sessions will keep an eye on metals and energy to see global trends.
• Stay Updated on News: Global events, currency shifts, and market announcements can influence prices. Start with a reliable source of news and read it often.

Ready to Start Trading?

Now that you know when to trade in commodity markets in India, you are ready to start. Therefore, the timing of your trades can make a huge difference in your trading success.

This is whether you are trading during the busy morning session or during the extended evening window.

Keep this guide handy and frequently visit the official MCX and NCDEX websites for the latest updates in this field. If you do not have any experience, start small, follow the market hours, and steadily build your trading confidence step by step.