Welcome to Ballast Markets
Ballast Markets is the first venue to trade chokepoint and port risk as standalone derivatives. We provide binary and index markets on the world's most critical maritime infrastructure.
What is Ballast?
Traditional financial markets react to supply chain disruptions after they impact commodity prices. Ballast allows you to hedge flow risk before it hits price.
Our markets track:
- Chokepoint availability (Suez, Panama, Hormuz, Malacca)
- Port congestion levels (Shanghai, Rotterdam, Los Angeles)
- Transit time volatility (Asia-Europe, Transpacific routes)
- Geopolitical risk premiums (regional maritime security)
Why Trade Flow Risk?
Hedge Faster Than Price Markets
When the Red Sea closes or Panama restricts transits, your positions are already protected. No need to wait for oil or freight derivatives to catch up.
New Alpha Source
Flow disruptions create predictable price movements in energy, containers, and bulk commodities. Trade the cause, not just the effect.
Professional-Grade Infrastructure
- Low latency execution (sub-10ms)
- Deep liquidity from market makers
- Transparent settlement based on AIS and port data
- Fully collateralized (no credit risk)
Getting Started
- Join the Waitlist: Sign up for early access
- Review Methodology: Understand how our markets are settled
- Explore Markets: Browse available chokepoint and port contracts
- Test API Access: Integrate with our WebSocket and REST APIs
We're currently onboarding professional traders, market makers, and institutional hedgers. For priority access, use your work email when joining the waitlist.
Market Coverage
| Region | Chokepoints | Major Ports | Live Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| MENA | Suez, Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb | Jebel Ali, Singapore | Q2 2025 |
| Americas | Panama Canal | Los Angeles, Houston | Q2 2025 |
| Asia-Pacific | Malacca, Lombok | Shanghai, Busan | Q3 2025 |