The foundation of global supply chains and industrial production
These dynamic global marketplaces facilitate the exchange of raw materials and primary products. When you participate in commodity markets, you're trading standardized contracts for physical goods ranging from agricultural products to energy resources and precious metals.
Wheat, Corn, Soybeans
Oil, Gas, Coal
Gold, Silver, Copper
Cotton, Sugar, Coffee
Trading standardized contracts for physical goods essential to global economies and industries.
Examples
Wheat, corn, soybeans
Major Exchanges
CME Group, ICE
Trading Vehicles
Futures, options, ETFs
Price Influencers Primary factors that drive price movements in this commodity category.
Weather, crop yields, demand
Key Participants
Farmers, food producers, speculators
Market Size (2023)
~$2.4 trillion
Volatility Level
High (seasonal patterns)
Storage Considerations
Perishable, seasonal
Did you know? Agricultural commodities are among the oldest traded goods, with futures contracts dating back to ancient Japan and rice markets.
Trading standardized contracts for physical goods essential to global economies and industries.
Examples
Crude oil, natural gas, coal
Major Exchanges
NYMEX, ICE
Trading Vehicles
Futures, options, ETFs, spreads
Price Influencers Primary factors that drive price movements in this commodity category.
Geopolitics, production levels, reserves
Key Participants
Energy companies, airlines, traders
Market Size (2023)
~$5.7 trillion
Volatility Level
Very high (geopolitical factors)
Storage Considerations
Complex, location-specific
Did you know? Oil is priced in different grades (WTI, Brent, etc.) with quality and location affecting price. Brent crude represents about two-thirds of all oil contracts worldwide.
Trading standardized contracts for physical goods essential to global economies and industries.
Examples
Gold, silver, copper
Major Exchanges
COMEX, LME
Trading Vehicles
Futures, options, ETFs, physical
Price Influencers Primary factors that drive price movements in this commodity category.
Economic conditions, industrial demand
Key Participants
Mining companies, manufacturers, investors
Market Size (2023)
~$3.8 trillion
Volatility Level
Moderate to high
Storage Considerations
Durable, compact
Did you know? Gold has maintained its value throughout human history, with approximately 190,000 tonnes of gold having been mined in total—enough to fill three Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Trading standardized contracts for physical goods essential to global economies and industries.
Examples
Cotton, sugar, coffee
Major Exchanges
ICE, NYBOT
Trading Vehicles
Futures, options, ETFs
Price Influencers Primary factors that drive price movements in this commodity category.
Climate, harvests, consumer trends
Key Participants
Manufacturers, processors, traders
Market Size (2023)
~$1.5 trillion
Volatility Level
High (weather dependent)
Storage Considerations
Varying shelf-life, condition-sensitive
Did you know? Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world after oil, with over 2.25 billion cups consumed worldwide every day.
Click on a commodity category above to view detailed information