The Italian Online Commodity Exchange: The Online Market for Agricultural, Agro-energy, Agri-food, and Fishery Products
The Italian Online Commodity Exchange is the sole regulated national market where economic operators can trade agricultural, agro-energy, agri-food, and fishery products every day, by using an online platform.
Based on regulation and clarity in negotiations, it is a tool for demand and supply matching which reflects market dynamics and determines the prices and volumes of exchanged products in real time.
The market is real and not financial thus, after closing contracts, the products are always delivered by the sellers to the buyers.
The Italian Online Commodity Exchange was established by law by the Italian Minister of Agricultural and Forestry Policies under Decree Law no. 174/2006, then amended by Decree Law no. 97/2012 .
Three bodies guarantee its functioning:
- BMTI, through the management of the negotiation online platform;
- The National Deputation, performing supervisory and steering functions;
- The Chambers of Commerce, with the coordination of Unioncamere, through the promotion of territorial activities and services, and the maintenance of the online platform functioning.
How it Works
The General Regulation sets the functioning of Italian Online Commodity Exchange, and specifically the conditions and modes of admission to negotiations.
The transaction of products takes place between Operators accredited to the Italian Online Commodity Exchange, through the activity of SAI (approved intermediary Agents) – registered in a specific list – who are entrusted with collecting and managing buy and sell orders. In the event of agreement on the quantity, price, and delivery method, the platform issues an online contract legally binding, which conditions are set by the General Dispositions and Specific Regulations prepared for each online market.
Register to the Italian Online Commodity Exchange.
The approved intermediary Agent (SAI) has the task of collecting and managing buy and sell orders in the Italian Online Commodity Exchange, functioning as “collector” of those proposals that are in the market.
To be registered as SAI in the Italian Online Commodity Exchange, you must operate in the agricultural, agro-energy, agri-food, and fishery sector and be recognised as:
- Intermediary agent or commercial agent/representative;
- Company with share capital which objects (business purpose) include online intermediary activities, and with the majority of its stakeholders operating in the above sectors;
- Single cooperative company, or cooperative companies constituted in a consortium, which objects (business purpose) include online intermediary activities;
- Agricultural producers organisation, as prescribed by Italian Legislative Decree no. 102/2005 Articles 2 and 5, which objects (business purpose) include online intermediary activities.
If you belong to one of these categories and fulfil the “requisites” (requirements) as prescribed by the General Regulation, Article 17, you can register subscribing the Basic Package or the Package Plus.
If you are an economic operator of the agricultural, agro-energy, agri-food, and fishery sector, you can register to the Italian Online Commodity Exchange, to sell or buy the products in which you are interested.
The accreditation allows entering a dedicated page where to read those proposals that are in the Italian Online Commodity Exchange, contact SAI, and monitor the evolution of your operations.
To get access fill out the Registration Form; if you fulfil the “requisites” (requirements) as prescribed by the General Regulation Article 23, you will receive the “access credentials” (log-in information).
Moreover, if you are interested in promoting your business it is possible to request the service of Display Window.
Online Markets
Online markets are “virtual gathering places” where economic operators can conduct negotiations for different products. The markets can be entered using any device with internet access, and the personal credentials received after the registration.
On the online markets can be closed both contracts for “ready delivery” (immediate delivery) and “delayed delivery” (deferred delivery) – with deliveries planned on a weekly, monthly basis, etc. Every active market is regulated by the General Dispositions, which describe basic contractual terms – payment, delivery/pick up of products, modes of disputes resolution, etc – and Specific Regulations, which set the ways to describe product characteristics.
Prices and volumes resulting from product transactions on the online markets are released through weekly price communications helping market transparency.
May you need further information or support to use the Online Markets write to us at mercati@bmti.it or call: +39 (0)6 44252922
Services for Enterprises
If you use the online markets, there are additional services available to support your activities and promote your business.
You can choose among the Safe Online Market and Financial Services covering your transactions on the online market, or you can create a Display Window where to promote your business activities and products.