Chicago – October 19, 2026 -- CME Group plans to launch futures and options on four European dairy products before the end of 2026, extending a dairy franchise that hit an all-time daily open interest record of 461,493 contracts on September 29.
The launch is pending all regulatory reviews. The new contracts cover European Skimmed Milk Powder, European Butter, European Whey Powder and European Liquid Milk. CME Group describes the rollout as the first step in a regional expansion that follows an agreement with the European Energy Exchange (EEX) earlier this year.
CME Group's dairy complex averaged 420,922 contracts a day in September
That monthly open interest figure is a record and a 42% increase year over year, according to the company. The exchange is pitching the European contracts as an extension of that momentum.
New contracts will be financially settled and start on EEX indices
The contracts will initially track EEX indices before moving to CME Group indices. They will be listed on, and subject to the rules of, CME.
CME Group and EEX are also working to transition the EEX Weekly European Cheese Indices and the Pan European Butter Index to CME Group.
CME Group pitches single-platform access to US and European dairy risk
John Ricci, Global Head of Agricultural Products at CME Group, said the contracts give participants a more complete toolkit to deploy capital efficiently and manage regional price risk on one platform alongside the exchange's U.S. dairy complex.