New York Mercantile Exchange, a CME Group designated contract market associated with energy and commodity futures.
NYMEX stands for the New York Mercantile Exchange. In current market usage, NYMEX is a CME Group designated contract market associated especially with energy futures and options, including crude oil, natural gas, refined products, and other commodity contracts.
NYMEX is important because many energy hedges, benchmarks, delivery procedures, and settlement prices are tied to NYMEX-listed contracts. A reference to “NYMEX crude” or “NYMEX natural gas” should be checked against the exact contract specification, delivery point, month, and settlement method.
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Product and exchange | Confirms the contract is subject to NYMEX rules. |
| Delivery point | Energy contracts often depend on specific hubs or delivery locations. |
| Contract month | Nearby and deferred months can behave differently. |
| Settlement method | Physical delivery and cash settlement create different risks. |
| Margin and price limits | Affects liquidity needs and ability to exit. |
| Rulebook notices | Exchange advisories can change procedures or contract details. |
CME Group’s official NYMEX page describes NYMEX as a designated contract market that became part of CME Group in 2008. CME Group’s designated contract markets page identifies whether a product is listed under CME, CBOT, NYMEX, or COMEX.
NYMEX is not the same as a generic energy price. The futures contract may be linked to a specific benchmark, delivery point, unit, and settlement calendar. A physical purchase agreement, retail fuel price, or index quote may use NYMEX pricing as a reference but add basis, transport, credit, tax, or location adjustments.