On 30 May 2011, the European Energy Exchange (EEX) launched 24/7 trading on the Spot Market for Natural Gas and, at the same time,expanded the GASPOOL and NCG market areas connected to exchange trading with the Dutch TTF market area. In May, the trading volume on the EEX Natural Gas Spot Market for the delivery into the GASPOOL, NCG and TTF market areas amounted to 1,456,366 MWh compared to 795,499 MWh in May 2010. The total volume included 848,278 MWh traded in the Within-Day Gas product. The Spot Market price for the day-ahead delivery of Natural Gas ranged between EUR 21.35 per MWh and EUR24.50 per MWh.
The volumes on the Derivatives Market for Natural Gas (GASPOOL and NCG market areas) amounted to 1,561,520 MWh (May 2010: 3,803,538 MWh). On 31 May 2011, the open interest was 20,925,492 MWh. On 31 May 2011 Natural Gas prices for deliveryin 2012 were fixed at EUR 27.53 per MWh (GASPOOL) and EUR 27.60 per MWh (NCG), respectively. In January, EEX launched the European Gas Index (EGIX). The last monthly average value for EGIX Germany, which constitutes the reference price for the delivery month June 2011, was fixed with 23.16 Euro/MWh on 30 May 2011.
On the EEX Spot Market for CO2 Emission Allowances (EUA) a total of 1,756,000 EUA was traded in May. The volume included 256,000 EUA traded on the secondary spot market (May 2010: 91,000 EUA) and 1,500,000 EUA from the primary market auction. During the month, the Carbix (Carbon Index) ranged between EUR 15.85 per EUA and EUR 16.90 per EUA.
The total volume on the EEX Derivatives Market for CO2 Emission Allowances amounted to 4,246,000 EUA. The volume included 1,966,000 EUA traded on the secondary derivatives market (May 2010: 705,000 EUA) and 2,280,000 EUA from the primary market auction. The 2011 Mid Dec future contract settled at EUR 17.00 per EUA on 31 May 2011, and the 2012 future contract at EUR 17.76 per EUA.
On the CO2 Derivatives Market for Certified Emission Reductions a volume of 10,000 CER was traded. On 31 May 2011, the 2011 Mid Dec future contract was traded at EUR 12.92 per CER and the 2012 future contract at EUR 12.90 per CER.
In May, ThyssenKrupp AG, Essen, became a new trading member on the Spot and Derivatives Market for Natural Gas. Crédit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, London, was admitted for trading on the Derivatives Market for Natural Gas in addition. 24 companies have already registered for the Natural Gas Spot Market for the delivery into the market area TTF.