Commodity Trader: Definition, What They Do, Where They Trade (2024)

What Is a Commodity Trader?

A commodity trader is an individual or business that invests in physical substances like oil, gold, or agricultural products. Daily buying and selling are driven by expected economic trends or commodity market opportunities.

Commodity markets typically trade in the primary economic sector and most commodity trading involves the purchase and sale of futures contracts, though physical trading and derivatives trading are also standard.

Oil and gold are two of the most commonly traded commodities, but markets also exist for cotton, wheat, corn, sugar, coffee, cattle, pork bellies, lumber, silver, and other metals.

Key Takeaways

  • Commodity traders are individuals or businesses which buy and sell physical commodities such as metals or oil.
  • Traders aim to profit from anticipated trends as well as arbitrage opportunities.
  • Commodity traders may work to secure a supply of raw material for a business or industry, to help to create liquidity in an international market, or to invest in a speculative capacity.

Understanding Commodity Traders

Several types of traders are active in the commodities market, dealing in raw materials used at the beginning of a production chain. Examples include copper for construction or grains for animal feed.

Some trade independently on major exchanges such as the New York Mercantile Exchange, and others work for international oil companies, mining companies, or other large commodity producers.

A commodity trader for a manufacturer or producer aims to secure the best prices on purchases while simultaneously supplying competitive bids to customers. Other commodity traders work solely as broker-dealers like Vitol or Trafigura. Professional traders working for brokerage firms create a deep and liquid international commodities market.

Commodity traders often act as speculators and attempt to make profits on small movements in commodity prices, gaining exposure through futures contracts. These traders go long if they believe prices are moving higher and short the commodity when they expect prices to fall.

Pros and Cons of Commodity Trading

Commodity traders react quickly to market-moving events like natural disasters that can impact various commodity markets at the same time. A hurricane can demolish sugar or orange crops, sending prices up due to a reduced supply. At the same time, lumber prices rise in anticipation of new building and reconstruction costs.

A commodity trader faces limitations compared to traders in other markets as commodity traders generate a total return solely from the price movement of the commodity they are trading. Unlike stock or bond traders, who can earn a dividend or gain from the asset they buy, commodity traders do not receive periodic cash flows. To generate a positive return, the commodity trader must be accurate in anticipating the price direction of the commodity.

Where Does an Investor Trade Commodities?

The most common way to trade commodities is to buy and sell contracts on a futures exchange. Commodity futures and options must be traded through an exchange by persons and firms who are registered with the Commodity Futures Trade Commission CFTC.

Which Commodities are Traded Most?

Crude oil, natural gas, gold, silver, and copper are the top five traded commodities.

What Legislation Regulates Commodity Trading?

The Commodity Exchange Act, passed in 1936, regulates the trading of commodity futures in the United States.

The Bottom Line

Commodities are raw materials including agricultural products, mineral ores, and fossil fuels. On the financial market, commodity traders these physical goods are bought, sold, and traded, distinct from securities such as stocks and bonds.

Commodity Trader: Definition, What They Do, Where They Trade (2024)

FAQs

What does a commodity trader do? ›

Commodity traders buy and sell commodities for a firm or bank. Your job duties include researching current stock market trends, advising clients on investments, and keeping up with industry news. Most commodity traders receive instructions from clients before performing deals online or in-person.

What is commodity trading in simple words? ›

A commodity market involves buying, selling, or trading raw products like oil, gold, or coffee. There are hard commodities, which are generally natural resources, and soft commodities, which are livestock or agricultural goods.

What is a commodity answer? ›

Commodities are raw materials used to manufacture consumer products. They are inputs in the production of other goods and services, rather than finished goods sold to consumers. In commerce, commodities are basic resources that are interchangeable with other goods of the same type.

Do commodity traders make a lot of money? ›

The salaries of Commodities Traders in The US range from $73,918 to $762,812, and the average is $166,453.

What is the role of commodity trading? ›

Commodity trading is a platform for price discovery, risk management, and portfolio diversification. Participants engage in this market as - producers hedging against price fluctuations, speculators seeking profit opportunities, or investors diversifying their portfolios.

What is an example of a commodity trader? ›

16 Largest Firms (Worldwide)
  • Vitol. The company engages in the extraction, trade, refining, storage, and transport of energy. ...
  • Glencore. ...
  • Cargill. ...
  • Koch Industries. ...
  • Archer Daniels Midland. ...
  • Gunvor International. ...
  • Trafigura. ...
  • Mercuria.
Apr 26, 2024

Which commodity is best for trading? ›

Gold, like crude oil, is one of the most traded commodities. Many variables impact the price of gold, including demand and supply, the movement of the US dollar, inflation, global uncertainty, central bank demand, and so on. Gold, like crude oil, is one of the most traded commodities.

What is commodity in simple words? ›

A commodity is any useful or valuable thing, especially something that is bought and sold. Grain, coffee, and precious metals are all commodities. The word commodity is usually used in an economic context, as in importing commodities from other countries or trading in the stocks and commodities markets.

How to make money in commodity trading? ›

Traders make money by buying commodities (or commodity derivatives) for a certain price and then subsequently selling them for a higher price. The buyer of a futures contract makes money if the future market price of the commodity exceeds the market price of the commodity at the time of purchase.

Is commodity a type of money? ›

Money is a type of asset in an economy that is used to buy goods and services from other people. A commodity is a physical item that is readily interchangeable with another item of the same type. Commodity money is a commodity that has intrinsic value.

Are commodities a good investment? ›

Investing in commodities can provide investors with diversification, a hedge against inflation, and excess positive returns. Investors may experience volatility when their investments track a single commodity or one sector of the economy. Supply, demand, and geopolitics all affect commodity prices.

What is a tradable commodity? ›

tradable commodity. Definition English: Tradable commodities consist of basic goods used in commerce that are often interchangeable with other goods of the same type. These tradable commodities are usually evaluated by economists as inputs in the production of other goods or services.

How do commodity traders work? ›

Key Takeaways. Commodity traders are individuals or businesses which buy and sell physical commodities such as metals or oil. Traders aim to profit from anticipated trends as well as arbitrage opportunities.

Is it hard to become a commodity trader? ›

One does not become a commodity trader overnight. To gain experience in this field, you may have to spend months or years learning the trade. Once you have the skills, you can consider working as an individual commodity trader or applying for a related job in a trading company dealing with such assets.

What commodity makes the most money? ›

1. Crude oil: Brent crude. Crude oil is one the world's most in-demand commodities as it can be refined into products including petrol, diesel and lubricants, along with many petrochemicals that are used to make plastics.

What is a commodity trader's salary? ›

Commodity trader salaries range between $55,000 and $156,000 per year. Average Commodity Trader Salary. $93,220 Yearly. $44.82 hourly.

Is commodity trading a good job? ›

First things first: commodities trading is one of the most challenging, dynamic, and rewarding careers available in the corporate jungle. Few jobs require that uncanny mix of interpersonal, analytical and communication skills.

What is the personality of a commodity trader? ›

Securities and commodities brokers score highly on extraversion, meaning that they rely on external stimuli to be happy, such as people or exciting surroundings. They also tend to be high on the measure of conscientiousness, which means that they are methodical, reliable, and generally plan out things in advance.

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