10 of the Most Traded Commodities in the World

Brent Crude Oil

The first two entries on our list of the most traded commodities in the world should come as little surprise.

Despite moves towards greener energy in recent years, crude oil is still very much in high demand. It powers our cars, heats our homes and produces fertilisers, pesticides and plastic. 

Brent Crude is one of two major types of crude oil which act as global benchmarks for the industry, the other being WTI crude. Brent Crude is extracted from the North Sea and is characterised as a light, sweet crude oil.

Light because of its low density and sweet because of its low sulphur content. Both of these qualities result in Brent Crude being relatively easy to refine.

WTI Crude Oil

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude acts as another benchmark for global oil prices and is also one of the most widely traded commodities in the world.

It is drilled in various states throughout the US and is also described as both sweet and light, having even lower sulphur content and density than Brent Crude.

The prices of both WTI and Brent Crude historically have positive correlations with global economic growth. When the economy is growing, demand for oil inevitably increases which drives up its price.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is another important source of global energy, which is found deep below the surface of the earth. Although a non-renewable energy source, natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel and is very versatile, meeting a lot of the same needs as crude oil.

As the world cuts emissions in an attempt to reach net zero by 2050, the use of both crude oil and natural gas will inevitably need to be curtailed. However, due to producing less emissions than oil, it is expected that natural gas will continue to be a key source of global energy during the transition.

Gold

A precious metal which has been sought after for centuries, gold is now primarily used for jewellery production and as a vehicle for investment and is primarily mined in China, Australia, Russia and the US.

Gold is one of the most traded commodities in the world but, in times of uncertainty, it often becomes even more popular with investors. This is because it is considered a safe haven asset, meaning that it tends to retain value or even rise in price during times of economic and political upheaval.

Silver

Another precious metal, silver has also been historically sought after by mankind for many centuries. Unlike gold, around half of silver’s demand arises from its industrial uses, such as in solar panels and electrical products.

However, like gold, a lot of its demand is controlled by jewellers and investment. Whilst silver is also considered a safe haven asset, it is not seen to be as reliable as gold due to the fact that gold's value is less dependent on industry.

Copper

Copper is a very important metal in the modern world. Due to its characteristics of being an excellent conductor of electricity and heat, it is widely used in the electronics and building industries.

Chile is an important producer, accounting for almost a quarter of global production in 2022. Peru, China and the US, to name a few, are also important, though smaller, producers.

Due to its use in manufacturing, the price of copper is highly dependent on economic output and, consequently, demand for the base metal is seen as a reliable indicator of economic health – earning it the nickname “Dr Copper”. 

Coffee

With an estimated 2.25 billion cups drank a day across the globe, it should come as little surprise that coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world. Coffee beans are grown in more than 50 countries, in what is known as the “coffee belt”, with its largest producer being Brazil.

There are two main varieties which account for the vast majority of coffee production: arabica and robusta. Arabica is generally considered to be higher quality, making it more popular, accounting for around 60% of total coffee consumption.

When it comes to trading, arabica tends to have more stable pricing, while the price of robusta is generally more volatile.

Sugar

Once a luxury reserved for the wealthy, sugar has long been a highly sought after commodity. Its use in food and drinks all over the globe, together with other lesser known uses, such as in medical equipment and beauty products, make sugar one of the most widely traded commodities on the market.

Although sugar is far more accessible these days, it is still considered somewhat of a luxury good, meaning that, as with other commodities on this list, its demand and therefore price tends to be positively correlated with economic performance.

Cocoa 

The next of the most traded commodities on our list, cocoa is used to produce one of the world’s favourite products, chocolate!

Production of cocoa is mainly concentrated in West Africa and Latin America, with about 70% of global production taking place in just four West African countries: the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon. The vast majority of commodities are traded in US dollars, however, cocoa is one of the last remaining which is still typically traded in British pounds.

Cotton

The majority of people reading this article will most likely be currently wearing at least one item of clothing made using the final item on our list of the most traded commodities in the world. 

But besides clothing and household items, cottonseed is also used as feed for livestock, it is made into oil which is subsequently used in the manufacturing of soap, margarine, rubber and plastics. Linters, which are fibres found on cottonseed are also used to make bandages and bank notes. India, China and the US are the largest three producers of cotton in the world.