Agricultural Commodity Trading Basics
Agricultural Commodities are crops and livestock that are raised and harvested to provide food and sometimes fuel. Commodities are traded globally and classified into six categories. Many crops fall into these categories, so let’s review.
Oil Seeds
Oil seeds are grown for their high oil content. After the oil is extracted, the seeds are used for meals and feed.
Crops included are:
- Canola
- Cotton
- Palm oil
- Soybeans
Cotton is essential because the fibers make both clothing and houseware products. Both commodities are used in a wide variety of industries and have a sliding value scale.
Oil seeds, in general, have a strong relationship with the next category, cereal grains. This relationship is due to their versatility and high demand.
Cereal Grains
Cereal grains are what feed humans and animals. They also create some fuel sources. Some crops included in this category are:
- Wheat
- Corn
- Oats
- Barley
- Rough rice
Due to their versatility and demand on the market, cereal grains tend to keep a fair price. The value of cereal grains is determined by accessing the spread of the price between the grains.
Meat: Food Source
Meat is a market that runs on livestock being raised and sold for their:
- Meat
- Hide
- Organs
- Bones
- Hooves
Meat is classified into the appropriate category once butchered.
Dairy
The agricultural industry bases dairy on market standards instituted by the Chicago Butter and Egg Board in 1898. Later in 1919, the organization reformed into the Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
The products exchanged within this category are:
- Milk
- Butter
- Whey
- Cheese
- Eggs
The traders who formed the Chicago Butter and Egg Board had to keep prices fair and maintain public safety standards.
Soft Commodities
Soft commodities are one of the more versatile classifications of Agricultural Commodities. Technically they are products that are grown rather than mined.
Examples of soft commodities are:
- Cocoa
- Coffee
- Frozen Concentrated Orange Juice (FCOJ)
- Sugar
These commodities are unique because farmers plant year after year, and the crop ends at harvest.
Miscellaneous Agricultural Commodities
The miscellaneous category contains the commodities that are grown and traded globally. They do not, however, fit into the previous classes.
Such commodities are:
- Lumber
- Wool
- Rubber (from the rubber tree)
The commodities create homes, tapestry, and more. Demand keeps items in this category relevant and vital.