About GIA CAT LOI
Company Overview
GIA CAT LOI, operating under the legal name Công Ty CP Giao Dịch Hàng Hóa Gia Cát Lợi (Gia Cat Loi Commodity Trading Joint Stock Company), is a Vietnam-based brokerage established on 23 September 2019. Its registered headquarters is located at 163 Nguyễn Thị Nhung, KDC Vạn Phúc 1, Quốc lộ 13, Phường Hiệp Bình Phước, Thành phố Thủ Đức, Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh. The company focuses on commodity derivatives trading, offering clients access to futures and options on international exchanges.
The broker positions itself as a leading commodity intermediary in Vietnam, claiming a substantial market share and a network of over 300 consultants nationwide. Its target audience includes Vietnamese retail and institutional investors seeking exposure to global commodity markets without directly participating in foreign exchanges.
Regulatory Status
GIA CAT LOI does not hold a license from any financial regulatory authority such as the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC) or any foreign regulator. According to official records, no regulatory body oversees its operations. The company's website states it is 'authorized and guaranteed by the Vietnam Commodity Exchange' (MXV), but this claim refers to membership in a local commodity exchange, not a government regulator. The absence of a recognized regulatory license is a significant risk factor for traders.
The FXCanary Scam Risk Score for this broker is 85 out of 100, indicating a severe risk. Traders should exercise extreme caution when considering this broker, particularly due to the lack of investor protection mechanisms and dispute resolution channels that regulated brokers provide.
Trading Platforms and Technology
GIA CAT LOI offers the CQG suite of trading platforms, including CQG Desktop, CQG Trader, and a mobile application. CQG is a professional-grade platform widely used in the commodity futures industry, providing advanced charting, real-time market data, and order management tools. The platform supports trading on multiple exchanges such as CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX, ICE, and SGX.
Users are required to pay monthly fees for platform access: a fixed user trader fee of 243,000 VND (approx. $10 USD) and an optional QTrader system fee of 3,230,000 VND (approx. $133 USD). Additional market data subscriptions for specific exchanges are also charged separately, ranging from 1,130,000 VND to 5,060,000 VND per month. These costs are relatively high compared to international standards and may be a consideration for retail traders.
Account Types and Fees
The broker offers individual and corporate accounts with free account opening. Detailed specifications of different account tiers (e.g., standard, premium) are not publicly disclosed on the website. The fee structure is based on per-lot commissions denominated in Vietnamese Dong (VND). For example, a standard soybean futures contract (ZSE) carries a commission of 700,000 VND per round turn, while micro contracts (MZS) cost 300,000 VND.
The broker claims no overnight holding fees, which is typical for futures markets where funding costs are embedded in the contract pricing. Minimum deposit requirements are not specified on the website, but traders can infer that initial margins for individual contracts start from several million VND. The lack of transparent account tiers and minimum deposit information makes it difficult for potential clients to compare offerings.
Markets and Instruments
GIA CAT LOI provides access to a wide range of commodity futures and options across agricultural, industrial, and metal sectors. Agricultural products include wheat, corn, soybeans, rice, cocoa, coffee, cotton, and sugar. Industrial commodities feature crude oil, natural gas, and other energy products. Metals such as gold, silver, and copper are also available. Contracts come in standard, mini, and micro sizes to accommodate different capital levels.
Trading is linked to major global exchanges: CBOT (Chicago Board of Trade), COMEX (Commodity Exchange), NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange), ICE (Intercontinental Exchange), and SGX (Singapore Exchange). The broker does not offer forex, indices, or equity CFDs, limiting its product scope to commodities only. This specialization may appeal to traders with a focus on raw materials but excludes those seeking diversified multi-asset portfolios.
Funding and Customer Support
The broker emphasizes fast deposit and withdrawal services, though specific payment methods (bank transfers, e-wallets, etc.) are not explicitly listed on the reviewed website pages. Vietnamese Dong (VND) is the base currency for account operations, with all fees and margin requirements quoted in VND. International clients may face currency conversion costs.
Customer support is available 24/7 via phone, email, and in-person consultations at branch offices across Vietnam. The company claims a team of expert consultants who provide one-on-one guidance, including on-site account opening for clients in remote areas. The website is in Vietnamese, with limited English content, indicating a primary focus on the domestic market.
Conclusion for Traders
GIA CAT LOI presents itself as a specialized commodity futures broker for Vietnamese investors. Its offering of international commodity markets through the CQG platform is a legitimate value proposition. However, the complete absence of financial regulation and the high-risk score assigned by FXCanary are major red flags. The company's claim of being 'authorized by the Vietnam Commodity Exchange' does not equate to government oversight.
Potential clients should carefully weigh the risk of trading with an unregulated entity, especially given the leveraged nature of futures trading. Without regulatory protection, traders have no recourse in case of disputes, fraud, or platform issues. It is strongly recommended to seek regulation-compliant alternatives or treat this broker with extreme caution.
Overview compiled by FXCanary from regulatory records and public data. full GIA CAT LOI review