ICE Natural Gas and Power Open Interest Hits Record High
Intercontinental Exchange reached a record 130.5 million active contracts across its futures and options markets in May. Global natural gas open interest rose 11 percent year-on-year to 48 million contracts as participants hedge against shifting trade routes and rising data center demand.
INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE reached record open interest in its global natural gas and power markets. Total open interest across all futures and options hit an all-time high of 130.5 million contracts. The surge reflects heightened hedging activity as geopolitical conflict and data center demand reshape global energy flows.
### Global Energy Disruption Drives Hedging Open interest in global Natural Gas markets hit a record 48 million contracts on May 22, an 11% increase from the previous year. This activity follows the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran. The closure has tightened global supplies and forced participants to seek alternatives to Middle Eastern gas.
