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What are commodities in trading and how do they work?

wissam chehade • 08 Aug 2025

wissam chehade • 08 Aug 2025
What are commodities in trading and how do they work?

Key Highlights 

  • Commodities are raw materials like oil, gold, and coffee traded globally. 
  • Two main types: hard commodities (like metals) and soft commodities (like agricultural products). 
  • Traders use futures or CFDs to speculate on price movements without owning the asset. 
  • Popular commodities include crude oil, gold, wheat, and coffee. 
  • Trading commodities offers portfolio diversification, hedging, and profit potential—but carries risk. 
  • Global events, weather, supply-demand shifts, and currency movements impact commodity prices. 

What Are Commodities in Trading? 

Commodities are the raw building blocks of the global economy—everything from energy and metals to crops and livestock. These goods are standardised and interchangeable, which makes them ideal for trading on global markets. 

You’ve likely heard people say things like, “Gold is on the rise,” or “Oil prices are crashing.” That’s commodities trading in action. Instead of buying the physical product, most traders use financial instruments like futures or CFDs (Contracts for Difference) to speculate on price movements. 

Commodities generally fall into two categories: 

  • Hard commodities: Natural resources like crude oil, gold, and metals. 
  • Soft commodities: Agricultural products such as wheat, coffee, cotton, and sugar. 

How Does Commodities Trading Work? 

Most people don’t buy barrels of oil or sacks of sugar. Instead, they trade futures contracts or CFDs, which allow you to profit from rising or falling prices without holding the physical commodity. 

For instance, if you think gold prices will go up, you can buy a gold CFD. If the price increases, you can sell it later for a profit. If the price drops, you take a loss. 

Trading platforms like BitDelta.Pro offer access to major commodities via CFDs, enabling flexible trading with features like high leverage, tight spreads, and risk management tools. 

Why Trade Commodities? 

Diversification 

Commodities typically move differently to stocks or bonds, so they help spread risk. 

Inflation Hedge 

Raw materials often retain value when inflation rises—especially gold and oil. 

Profit Potential 

Volatility in commodity markets creates opportunities for active traders. 

Global Relevance 

Commodities are influenced by everything from geopolitics to weather, giving savvy traders a global edge. 

Popular Commodities to Trade 

Some of the most actively traded commodities include: 

  • Crude Oil – Driven by OPEC policies, global demand, and political tensions. 
  • Gold – A safe haven asset in times of uncertainty. 
  • Silver & Copper – Key metals for industry and tech. 
  • Wheat & Corn – Affected by weather patterns and global food demand. 
  • Coffee & Sugar – Influenced by climate, crop yields, and consumption trends. 

Factors That Move Commodity Prices 

Commodity prices don’t move randomly. Here are the key drivers: 

  • Supply and Demand – Scarcity or surplus directly affects prices. 
  • Weather Conditions – Especially important for soft commodities like grains or coffee. 
  • Geopolitical Events – Wars, sanctions, or trade bans can trigger volatility. 
  • Currency Fluctuations – Since most commodities are priced in USD, changes in currency rates matter. 
  • Economic Reports – Inventories, forecasts, and policy updates can shift sentiment quickly. 

Trading Commodities with CFDs 

Using CFDs, you don’t buy the actual commodity—you trade on the price movement. This allows for: 

  • Lower capital requirements 
  • Long or short positions (profit in rising or falling markets) 
  • Fast execution and tight spreads 
  • Built-in risk management tools like stop-losses 

Ready to Explore the World of Commodities? 

Commodities trading is more than just gold and oil—it’s a dynamic, fast-moving world that reflects real-world demand, global crises, weather events, and economic shifts. Whether you’re looking to hedge inflation, diversify your portfolio, or take advantage of short-term price movements, commodities trading offers powerful potential. 

Just remember with high potential comes risk. So, start with proper research, risk management, and a reliable platform like BitDelta.Pro to guide your journey. 

FAQs 

Commodities are raw materials like oil, gold, and agricultural products that are bought and sold on global markets. Nowadays, this is done through electronic trading platforms.

There are two main types: hard commodities (like metals and energy) and soft commodities (like crops and livestock).

You can trade via futures contracts or CFDs, which let you speculate on price without owning the actual product. At BitDelta Pro, we offer a wide range of commodities CFDs with low spreads, ultra-fast execution, and powerful platforms.

A CFD (Contract for Difference) lets you profit from the price movement of a commodity without buying or storing the physical asset.

To diversify their portfolio, hedge against inflation, and take advantage of market volatility.

Commodities can be highly volatile, and trading with leverage can magnify both gains and losses.

Crude oil, gold, silver, wheat, coffee, and natural gas are among the most actively traded.

Not necessarily. With CFDs, you can start trading with a relatively small investment using leverage.

Weather events like droughts or floods can impact supply, which affects prices—especially in agricultural markets.

Yes, with the right tools and education. Starting with a demo account and learning how markets work is a smart way to begin.
DISCLAIMER

This communication is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice. BitDelta Pro does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Trading in traditional securities (such as forex currency pairs, stocks, bonds, and commodities) carries inherent risks, including potential loss of principal. Users are encouraged to carefully evaluate their financial objectives, conduct their own research, and seek independent financial advice before making any trading decisions. BitDelta Pro is not liable for any losses or damages resulting from actions taken in response to this communication.

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