The Ethiopian Commodities Exchange (ECX) transacted seven billion Birr from 131,000tn of commodities in the first quarter of this year. Out of the total amount transacted, coffee took the lion's share in volume and value, followed by sesame. ECX transacted 79,202tn of coffee for 5.9 billion Br and 14,926tn of sesame for 835 million Br. It also transacted 25,882tn of chickpeas for 396 million Br and 4,009tn of wheat beans for 83 million Br. The transacted values have shown an increase of 86pc in value and 70pc in price compared to the same period last year. During this quarter, ECX also added red beans and green mung beans to the trade floor and transacted 7,065ql for 216.7 million Br. It also plans to start trading niger. Currently, ECX, which has 347 members, is trading white kidney beans, red kidney beans, sesame, coffee, maize, wheat, soybeans, chickpeas and green mung bean.