Most Traded Commodities in the World

For the commodities exchange market to function, all producers must work to the same standard. A barrel of crude oil produced by ExxonMobil and Chevron should be at the same standard, so brokers, exchanges and buyers are indifferent to the source of the commodity. These geopolitical and economic influences have positioned commodities at the intersection of global uncertainty, with traders leveraging bullish and bearish opportunities to navigate volatile markets. Lithium, an emerging leader within the commodity landscape, has gained prominence as the demand for battery production intensifies, underscoring the shift towards renewable energy and electric mobility.

• Of course, most desks already monitor the daily price of the most traded commodities.
• The information on this website is general in nature and doesn’t take into account your or your client’s personal objectives, financial circumstances, or needs.
• Commodity markets underpin the global economy, enabling the trade of raw materials to fuel industries, economies, and everyday life.

Sentiment

In 2022 the Singapore Exchange traded 12,476,340 Iron Ore Futures Contracts, which is a massive 1,247.7 million tons. FocusEconomics provide hundreds of consensus forecast reports from the most reputable economic research authorities in the world.

A Summary of the Most Traded Commodities in the World

India is emerging as another key market; rapid industrialization has caused Indian demand to roughly triple since the turn of the millennium. In contrast, developed economies in Europe and North America are increasingly phasing out coal due to climate commitments and the expansion of renewable energy sources. In particular, China’s booming solar and wind sectors plus slower economic growth will cap its appetite for coal.

Commodity sectors and their key players

Copper, critical in producing electronic components and renewable energy infrastructure, has experienced heightened demand due to expanded renewable energy projects and electric vehicle (EV) production. Aluminium, with its versatility and lightweight properties, remains in high demand for its role in the automotive and construction industries. Gas is mainly traded through physical deliveries, but in recent years, standardized gas contracts have become a popular means of investment.

Soybeans: Best Agricultural Commodity to Trade

Data is based on commodity futures tracked by CNBC (and LME for aluminium) as of March 31, 2025. Using CFDs, you can trade on the price of both US crude oil (also known as ‘West Texas Intermediate’) and Brent crude oil (drilled from the North Sea) with Capital.com. As a derivative product, CFDs enable you to speculate on whether you think oil will rise or fall in price – but you’ll never need to physically buy or sell drums of oil. The main trading platform for sugar No. 11 and No. 16 is the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in New York. Trading in white sugar No. 407 is mainly carried out on the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE). Notably, sugar futures are often traded in national currencies, and trading in dollars only takes place on the ICE.

China is the dominant consumer and producer, refining more than half of the world’s aluminum, while Australia and Guinea supply much of the raw bauxite needed for production. Volatile energy costs are a concern for the industry, as aluminum smelting is extremely energy-intensive; the smelting industry’s carbon footprint is an additional concern. Regarding the latter, hydrogen has been touted as a potential alternative to natural gas in the aluminum production process. Soybeans are a key global agricultural product, used for animal feed, vegetable oil production, and biofuels.

Commodities under pressure amid China’s weakening economic backdrop

The unit of measurement for No. 11 and No. 16 sugar contracts is pounds, while white sugar No. 407 is traded in tons. Platinum is a rare and valuable metal used primarily in jewelry, industrial applications, and catalytic converters for controlling vehicle emissions. South Africa dominates global production, accounting for nearly 70% of supply, with Russia and Zimbabwe also playing key roles.

This feeds through to a softer coal price forecast in 2025 compared to 2024, with prices to continue declining in subsequent years. The Alligator indicator varied trading activity across the United States, Europe, and Asia highlights the regional nuances defining the commodities markets. At the same time, the impact of economic conditions, geopolitical tensions, and environmental shifts continues to drive significant changes in trading patterns. The evolution of commodity markets will undoubtedly be influenced by technological advancements and policy changes as countries and industries seek more sustainable solutions for future growth. Traders looking to navigate this dynamic landscape must stay informed about emerging trends and risks while capitalising on the opportunities a rapidly changing global economy presents.

• Gold prices have surged since the Covid-19 pandemic due to increasing global uncertainty and as a hedge against high inflation, approaching USD 3,000 per troy ounce in early 2025.
• On Friday the 21st of September ,089 contracts (91,727 metric tons) were traded.
• Soft commodities like Coffee and Cocoa are among the most traded and consumed goods in the world.
• Commodity trading is available both in physical form and in the form of standardized contracts.
• Here, we share a few examples highlighting how sentiment intelligence provides foresight across commodity markets.

Such contracts can be used as a way of running a business, reducing the cost of purchasing raw materials. You can also create hedging structures in which one commodity is offset by another, which will reduce your potential risks to almost zero. Commodity trading on exchanges, in essence, revolves around long-term investment strategies. However, the most popular commodities are highly liquid and suitable for intraday trading or even scalping. At present, the world’s highly sought-after commodities allow traders with any amount of capital to earn on price differences. The list of most traded products and goods could be based on the number of contracts traded on major Futures and Options exchanges.

Nevertheless, silver is the second most widely traded precious metal after gold. The ever-growing demand for natural gas worldwide has led to its increasing popularity as an exchange-traded investment vehicle. According to forecasts by the International Gas Union, global natural gas consumption will increase by another 2.3%–2.5% in 2025. The situation with constantly growing demand for gas supplies has been observed for several years in a row, which attracts investors and speculators.

For example, Soybean Meal and Soybean Oil, which both have high annual turnover on the CBOT. COMEX holds the record for the most traded copper Options contracts in a single day. On Friday the 21st of September ,089 contracts (91,727 metric tons) were traded. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Pepperstone doesn’t represent that the material provided here is accurate, current or complete, and therefore shouldn’t be relied upon as such.

Commodity trading is usually held either on an international commodity exchange or in the OTC market. The largest trading volume can be observed on the NYMEX, ICE, LME, and TOCOM exchanges. The most traded commodities for decades have been firmly established as the biggest markets, most liquid and commonly traded worldwide. The significance of these most traded goods has even influenced the top 5 most traded currencies in the world.