In 2023, there are a plethora of financial products available for speculators to invest in and trade. These can include anything that can be processed into a commodity or derivative – including valuable and useful resources (like energy and precious metals) to obscure products (like unsecured debt and disaster bonds). This article will give a simple overview of some of the most-traded commodities in 2023. 

Energy resources

In terms of contracts exchanged and turnover, the energy commodities market is by far the largest. Of these, although there are many other energy commodities accessible for online trading, black gold is the most common. Brent Crude is the first of the two primary forms of crude oil that serve as worldwide industry standards; the second is WTI (West Texas Intermediate) crude. The production of Brent crude oil is commonly acknowledged to be more manageable than WTI crude oil outputs as it is drilled offshore. Since WTI is extracted and stored onshore, several logistical challenges limit its output. Natural gas, found deep beneath the earth’s surface, is another important source of global energy. As a non-renewable, natural gas remains the cleanest fossil fuel to burn and is also the most adaptable, fulfilling many of the same requirements as crude oil.

Precious metals

Many industries require large amounts of precious metals – this includes the technology, building, fashion and investment sectors. Gold is one of the most-traded commodities worldwide and is typically more popular with investors during times of global financial uncertainty. Silver is also regarded as a haven asset, although it is not considered as dependable as gold (largely due to gold’s rarity). Unlike gold, industrial uses account for almost half of the demand for silver. Lastly, copper is widely utilised in the electrical and building sectors due to its ability to effectively conduct electricity and heat.

Agricultural commodities

Agricultural commodities are frequently overlooked as trading instruments by many prospective investors. Coffee, cocoa, and sugar are some of the most-consumed and traded commodities worldwide, ensuring a relative constancy of trade. The overwhelming bulk of coffee output consists of two primary varieties: arabica and robusta. Arabica is commonly acknowledged to be of superior quality, with more stability in its pricing (in contrast, the robusta is more variable). In terms of production, cocoa is largely concentrated in Latin America and West Africa. Although sugar is much more widely available, it is still considered a luxury product, which means that demand and price tend to be positively connected with economic success.

Diversify your portfolio

The high volatility levels of many products allow traders to benefit from both increasing and decreasing prices of commodities. Thus, commodities facilitate traders and investors to diversify their portfolios – an important aspect of risk management. Portfolio diversification occurs when uncorrelated risky assets are added to it. Commodities generally have low or negative correlations with stocks and other asset classes, providing diversification to an existing array of investments. In 2023, it is recommended to carefully research, trust your intuition, and diversify your investments for a secure future.