Crude oil trading time in India on MCX is 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM IST, Monday to Friday, until 30 October 2026. From 2 November 2026, the close moves to 11:55 PM IST after US daylight saving time ends. MCX crude oil is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, and activity picks up sharply from about 6:30 PM IST, when US daytime trading begins.
Timing matters more in crude oil than in most markets because prices react to US inventory data, OPEC+ decisions, geopolitics and the dollar, much of which lands during the Indian evening. This guide covers MCX hours, US crude hours in IST, the events that move prices, weekend trading and how the schedule changes through the year.
| Market / session | Now (till 30 Oct 2026) | From 2 Nov 2026 | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| MCX pre-open (modify or cancel orders only) | 8:45 – 8:59 AM | 8:45 – 8:59 AM | Mon – Fri |
| MCX crude oil futures, options and mini | 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | 9:00 AM – 11:55 PM | Mon – Fri |
| NSE crude oil contracts | 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM | 9:00 AM – 11:55 PM | Mon – Fri |
| US WTI futures (CME Globex) | Mon 3:30 AM → Sat 2:30 AM, nearly 23 hrs a day | Mon 4:30 AM → Sat 3:30 AM | Mon – Sat (IST) |
| Peak US daytime activity in WTI | 6:30 PM – 12:00 AM | 7:30 PM – 1:00 AM | Mon – Fri |
| WTI daily break | 2:30 – 3:30 AM | 3:30 – 4:30 AM | Daily |
| Brent crude (ICE) | 5:30 AM → 3:30 AM next day | 6:30 AM → 4:30 AM next day* | Mon – Fri |
| US EIA crude inventory report | Wednesday 8:00 PM | Wednesday 9:00 PM | Weekly |
| CL/USDT perpetual on Mudrex | 24/7 | 24/7 | Every day |
*UK clocks change a week before the US, on 25 October 2026, so Brent’s later IST timings start from 26 October.
Crude oil market kitne baje khulta aur band hota hai? MCX par crude oil Monday se Friday subah 9:00 baje khulta hai aur filhaal raat 11:30 baje band hota hai. 2 November 2026 se closing time raat 11:55 baje ho jayega. Saturday aur Sunday ko MCX band rehta hai. Sabse zyada movement shaam 6:30 se raat 11:30 baje ke beech hota hai.
MCX splits the crude oil trading day into two sessions that run back to back. The morning session covers Indian business hours, and the evening session keeps Indian traders in the market while the US is active.
| Session | Timing (IST) | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-open | 8:45 – 8:59 AM | Modify or cancel pending orders; no new orders |
| Morning session | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Prices adjust to the overnight US move; activity is modest |
| Evening session | 5:00 PM – 11:30 PM (11:55 PM from 2 Nov) | Europe, then the US, are active; most of the day’s volume |
| Broker intraday square-off | A few minutes before the close | Open intraday positions are closed automatically; your broker sets the exact cut-off |
The 5:00 PM close applies only to domestic agricultural contracts. Crude oil, like bullion and base metals, continues into the night.
India does not change its clocks, but the US does. While the US is on daylight saving time, New York is 9 hours 30 minutes behind IST and US daytime trading begins around 6:30 PM IST. When the US returns to standard time, the gap widens to 10 hours 30 minutes and US activity starts an hour later, around 7:30 PM IST. MCX extends its close by 25 minutes in that period so Indian traders keep more of the US session.
The change applies from the first trading day after the US switches its clocks.
| Period | MCX crude oil close (IST) |
|---|---|
| 9 March – 30 October 2026 (US daylight saving) | 11:30 PM |
| 2 November 2026 – mid-March 2027 (US standard time) | 11:55 PM |
| From ~15 March 2027 (US daylight saving resumes 14 March) | Expected 11:30 PM, subject to the MCX circular |
The rule to remember: US daylight-saving period → 11:30 PM close. US standard-time period → 11:55 PM close. Several popular guides state this the other way round, so it is worth double-checking any timing you read elsewhere against this rule.
MCX crude oil options and Crude Oil Mini follow the same 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM / 11:55 PM session as the main futures contract. What differs is contract size (100 barrels for the main contract, 10 barrels for the mini), not market hours.
NSE also lists crude oil contracts in its commodity derivatives segment, including WTI-linked and Dated Brent futures, on the same Monday-to-Friday window and daylight-saving rule. NSE’s Dated Brent contract has a 6% daily price limit that can widen to 9% after a 15-minute cooling-off, which is what traders usually mean by “crude oil circuit time”. MCX publishes its own limits in the contract specification, so check the current version before trading.
When traders search for US crude oil trading time in India, they usually mean WTI futures on CME/NYMEX, the benchmark MCX crude tracks. WTI does not open in the Indian evening: it trades nearly 23 hours a day on CME Globex. What changes in the evening is US participation, which lifts volume and tightens spreads. So 6:30 PM IST is best read as the start of peak US activity, not as WTI’s opening time.
| US crude event | US Eastern Time | IST now (US daylight saving) | IST from 2 Nov 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly electronic open | Sunday 6:00 PM | Monday 3:30 AM | Monday 4:30 AM |
| Peak US daytime activity begins | 9:00 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| Daily settlement | 2:28 – 2:30 PM | 11:58 PM – 12:00 AM | 12:58 – 1:00 AM |
| Daily break | 5:00 – 6:00 PM | 2:30 – 3:30 AM | 3:30 – 4:30 AM |
| Weekly close | Friday 5:00 PM | Saturday 2:30 AM | Saturday 3:30 AM |
Brent crude trades on ICE Futures Europe from 1:00 AM to 11:00 PM London time, which is roughly 5:30 AM to 3:30 AM the next day in IST while the UK is on summer time, and 6:30 AM to 4:30 AM from 26 October 2026. Brent settles at about 7:30 PM London time, around midnight IST in summer and 1:00 AM IST in winter.
MCX crude oil is quoted in rupees but tracks international crude prices converted at the rupee-dollar rate, so both the dollar price of WTI and USD/INR move your MCX position. Because WTI’s daily settlement and most US energy data arrive during the Indian evening, the MCX morning session mostly digests what already happened overnight, while the evening session is where new information gets priced.
There is no window that guarantees better results, but crude oil is usually most active when US participation overlaps with MCX: roughly 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM IST now, and 7:30 PM to 11:55 PM IST from 2 November 2026. Spreads are typically tightest and volume highest in the first two to three hours after US daytime trading begins. Higher activity also means higher volatility, so the busiest window isn’t automatically the right one for every trader.
| IST (now) | IST (from 2 Nov) | What to expect on MCX crude |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM | 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Opening adjustment to overnight moves, then a quiet market |
| 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM | 1:30 PM – 7:00 PM | London is active; volume builds slowly |
| 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM | Major US economic data (jobs, inflation) can jolt prices |
| 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM | 7:30 PM – 10:30 PM | US daytime trading begins: usually the busiest stretch |
| Wednesday 8:00 PM | Wednesday 9:00 PM | EIA inventory report: the week’s biggest scheduled move |
| 9:30 PM – close | 10:30 PM – close | Still active; spreads widen near the close and broker square-off |
Most large, fast moves in crude oil cluster around scheduled events. These are the ones to mark in IST:
| Event | When (US Eastern Time) | IST now | IST from 2 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|
| API weekly inventory estimate | Tuesday 4:30 PM | Wednesday 2:00 AM | Wednesday 3:00 AM |
| EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report | Wednesday 10:30 AM | Wednesday 8:00 PM | Wednesday 9:00 PM |
| US jobs report (non-farm payrolls) | First Friday, 8:30 AM | Friday 6:00 PM | Friday 7:00 PM |
| Baker Hughes rig count | Friday 1:00 PM | Friday 10:30 PM | Friday 11:30 PM |
| US Federal Reserve decision | 2:00 PM on meeting days | 11:30 PM | 12:30 AM (after MCX close) |
OPEC+ decisions have no fixed hour; they usually land during European business hours and are priced into MCX that evening. The EIA report can shift during US holiday weeks, so confirm its release calendar before planning a trade around it.
The early afternoon is often the thinnest part of the MCX day, so orders can fill at worse prices. The final minutes before the close can be erratic as positions are squared off. On partial holidays, MCX opens at 5:00 PM with little build-up, so the first minutes can gap.
No. MCX crude oil is closed on Saturday and Sunday. Regular sessions run Monday to Friday, excluding exchange holidays and subject to any special sessions MCX announces. US WTI futures also stop for the weekend: because of the time difference, the US week ends in the early hours of Saturday in India (about 2:30 AM IST now, 3:30 AM from November) and resumes early on Monday. News that breaks over the weekend is priced in one jump at the reopen, which is why crude often gaps on Monday.
The scheduled exception is Muhurat trading on Sunday, 8 November 2026, with timings to be notified by MCX. Separately, perpetual contracts such as CL/USDT on Mudrex trade 24/7, including weekends, though weekend liquidity is thinner because the underlying US market is closed.
MCX holidays either close the whole day or close only the morning session, in which case crude oil trades from 5:00 PM as usual.
| Date | Holiday | Morning session | Evening session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 2 October 2026 | Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti | Closed | Closed |
| Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | Dussehra | Closed | Open from 5:00 PM |
| Sunday, 8 November 2026 | Diwali Laxmi Pujan | Muhurat trading (timing to be notified) | |
| Tuesday, 10 November 2026 | Diwali Balipratipada | Closed | Open from 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday, 24 November 2026 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Closed | Open from 5:00 PM |
| Friday, 25 December 2026 | Christmas | Closed | Closed |
US holidays such as Thanksgiving (26 November) don’t close MCX, but they usually mean a thin evening session. Always check the latest MCX holiday calendar before assuming regular hours apply.
| MCX crude oil | US WTI futures (CME/NYMEX) | CL/USDT on Mudrex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading hours (IST) | 9:00 AM – 11:30 PM (11:55 PM in winter) | Nearly 23 hours a day, Mon 3:30 AM – Sat 2:30 AM | 24/7 |
| Most active for Indian traders | Evening | US daytime, 6:30 PM – 12:00 AM | US daytime hours |
| Weekend trading | No | No | Yes |
| Contract | Futures and options with expiry | Futures and options with expiry | Perpetual futures, no expiry |
| Size | 100 barrels (mini: 10 barrels) | 1,000 barrels | Flexible, from ₹100 |
| Currency | INR | USD | USDT |
CL/USDT on Mudrex is a USDT-settled perpetual futures contract that tracks crude oil prices and trades 24/7, with no fixed lot size or expiry cycle. You can start with ₹100 and react to an OPEC+ headline on a Sunday or a late US move after MCX has closed.
It is a different product from an MCX crude oil contract, and it carries different risks. Leverage of up to 50x magnifies losses as well as gains, funding payments apply to open positions, and liquidity is lower outside US market hours and on weekends. Understand how the product works, what it costs and how much you can afford to lose before trading.
Go deeper with how to trade crude oil in India, the best crude oil trading strategies, which indicator works best for crude oil and our guide to crude oil volatility.
Crude oil trading time in India runs from 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM IST on MCX, Monday to Friday, until 30 October 2026, and to 11:55 PM IST from 2 November 2026. The hours that matter most are the evening ones, when US daytime trading overlaps with MCX, with the Wednesday EIA report as the week’s key event. MCX and US crude are closed at weekends. If you’re checking crude oil trading time today, account for the current daylight-saving period, MCX holidays and any exchange notices.
For more on commodities, crypto and trading, explore Mudrex Learn or the Mudrex YouTube channel.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice. Crude oil and leveraged futures products are highly volatile and can lead to substantial losses. Exchange timings can change by circular; always confirm the current schedule before trading.
MCX crude oil trades Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM IST until 30 October 2026. From 2 November 2026, once US daylight saving time ends, the close moves to 11:55 PM IST and stays there until mid-March 2027. A pre-open window from 8:45 to 8:59 AM lets you modify or cancel orders. NSE crude oil contracts follow the same hours.
MCX par crude oil market Monday se Friday filhaal raat 11:30 baje band hota hai. 2 November 2026 se closing time raat 11:55 baje ho jayega, kyunki America mein daylight saving time khatam hota hai. Market subah 9:00 baje khulta hai aur Saturday-Sunday ko band rehta hai. Holiday par sirf evening session khula ho sakta hai.
On a regular trading day, MCX crude oil closes at 11:30 PM IST until 30 October 2026 and at 11:55 PM IST from 2 November 2026. Check first whether today is an MCX holiday: on full holidays such as 2 October and 25 December there is no trading, while on partial holidays crude oil opens at 5:00 PM and still closes at the usual time.
Yes. Commodity market timings differ across exchanges and countries. Indian crude oil trading follows MCX hours, while global crude oil futures like WTI trade for nearly 23 hours on international exchanges.
WTI crude oil futures trade nearly 23 hours a day on CME Globex, from about 3:30 AM Monday to 2:30 AM Saturday IST, with a daily break from 2:30 to 3:30 AM. They don’t open in the Indian evening; rather, US daytime participation picks up from about 6:30 PM IST. From 2 November 2026, all of these times move one hour later.
No. MCX and NSE crude oil contracts do not trade on Saturday or Sunday, and US WTI futures also stop for the weekend from about 2:30 AM IST on Saturday until early Monday. The scheduled exception is Diwali Muhurat trading on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Perpetual contracts such as CL/USDT on Mudrex trade 24/7, but weekend liquidity is thinner.
There is no single best time for every trader, but MCX crude oil is usually most active from about 6:30 PM to 11:30 PM IST now, and 7:30 PM to 11:55 PM IST from 2 November 2026, when US daytime trading overlaps with MCX. The Wednesday EIA inventory report, at 8:00 PM IST (9:00 PM in winter), is often the week’s sharpest scheduled move.
The EIA publishes its Weekly Petroleum Status Report on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM US Eastern Time, which is 8:00 PM IST during US daylight saving and 9:00 PM IST after it ends. The schedule can shift during US holiday weeks. The industry-run API estimate comes earlier, around 2:00 AM IST on Wednesday. Spreads can widen sharply for a few minutes around both releases.
Not on MCX or NSE, which close at 11:30 PM IST until 30 October 2026 and at 11:55 PM IST after that. WTI keeps trading overseas through the night, but Indian exchange contracts can’t be traded after the close. CL/USDT perpetual futures on Mudrex are available 24/7; this is a different product from an MCX contract and carries the risks of leveraged perpetual futures.
No. MCX Crude Oil Mini and crude oil options generally follow the same overall 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM/11:55 PM commodity trading session.
