Abstract:
The only two seafood commodities traded in futures markets are frozen white and black tiger shrimps on the
Minneapolis Grain Exchange (MGE). These two contracts, however, have failed to attract the expected trade volume based on
the underlying shrimp cash market flow. First, we investigate the hedging effectiveness of these contracts. Then we also try to
determine the adequacy of the premiums/discounts for non-par deliveries associated with the various shrimp size categories
traded in each contract. Finally, we attempt to determine whether these contracts are unbiased predictors of cash market prices.
The analyses indicate that the hedging effectiveness of both contracts is relatively modest. It is concluded that part of the
explanation for the performance of the contracts resides in high deliverable category exchange option values, which stem from
volatility in the price differentials between size categories. Results indicate ineffective premiums/discounts and poor predic tive
ability of both contracts.
