Trade commodities online | 2025 Guide
Trading commodities gives investors exposure to vital global markets, including energy, metals, and agriculture. These assets sit at the core of global supply chains and respond to a wide range of economic, geopolitical, and environmental developments. Whether you're tracking market movements or learning how to trade commodities, understanding their unique behavior is essential.
When it comes to investing in commodities, some observers point out that these assets sometimes move independently of traditional stock market indices. This characteristic is often mentioned in analyses related to portfolio diversification, although it is by no means a guarantee of performance or stability.
One frequently discussed feature in commodity trading is the strong sensitivity of these markets to inflation. As consumer prices rise, commodities can behave differently depending on factors such as supply scarcity, demand fluctuations, and rising production costs. This price dynamic is a key point of interest in economic analyses related to investing in commodities. This historical behaviour is often taken into account in economic studies, particularly those on the effects of inflation on physical assets.
Furthermore, the commodities market is highly sensitive to geopolitical events. Production decisions, trade restrictions, regional tensions and climatic phenomena can have a direct impact on prices. This makes monitoring these markets particularly complex, but also closely linked to global news.
For those who wish to invest in commodities without physically owning the assets, there are financial products such as commodity CFDs. These instruments, offered by certain commodity brokers, provide indirect exposure to price fluctuations. However, CFDs carry a high risk of loss, particularly due to leverage, and are intended for informed investors who are aware of the underlying mechanisms.
It is essential to remember that trading commodities requires a good understanding of the assets involved, the applicable regulatory framework and the associated risks. Nothing on this page constitutes personalised recommendations or investment advice.
Commodity trading covers a wide range of assets from the energy, metals and agriculture sectors. Some of these attract particular attention due to their high liquidity, economic importance or exposure to global events. Commodity CFDs allow exposure to these markets without physical ownership, via financial instruments offered by certain commodity brokers. Here is an overview of the most frequently traded assets.
Oil is one of the most widely traded commodities on the financial markets. Two major indices are used: Brent (European benchmark) and WTI (West Texas Intermediate, US benchmark). Oil trading is influenced by several factors, including OPEC decisions, production levels, geopolitical tensions and global demand.
These contracts are widely used in commodity CFD trading, particularly via online platforms that provide easy access to Brent and WTI prices. However, the volatility of the oil market, exacerbated by external factors such as regional conflicts and embargoes, makes it a highly sensitive asset.
Precious and industrial metals are among the most traded assets on the commodities market. Gold has historically been seen as a store of value and remains one of the most closely watched commodities in times of economic uncertainty. Silver, which is more accessible and more sensitive to industry, and copper, which is used in construction and electronics, complete this strategic category.
Investing in commodities such as metals can be done through derivatives or ETFs, or through commodity CFDs. These instruments allow you to track price fluctuations without having to physically store or handle the metals. Chinese demand, inventory levels and industrial developments are all factors that influence these markets.
In the agricultural sector, wheat, soybeans and corn are considered benchmark agricultural commodities. Present on the futures markets for decades, these products are influenced by harvests, agricultural policies, weather conditions and geopolitical tensions related to food security.
Agricultural commodity trading is often carried out via derivative contracts or CFDs, depending on the platforms available. The price of these assets can fluctuate significantly depending on climate data or production announcements, which requires constant monitoring of international markets.
Natural gas is a highly traded energy asset, directly linked to industrial consumption, electricity production and energy policies. Its price can vary depending on the season, storage capacity and tensions between producing and importing countries. Natural gas trading is available on certain platforms via commodity CFDs.
Although it is a relatively new commodity on the financial markets, lithium is attracting growing interest with the development of batteries for electric vehicles. The commodities market is adapting to this growing demand, in particular through the emergence of new financial products offering indirect exposure to this asset.
The commodities presented here are among the most actively traded on commodity trading platforms. However, any commodity investment via financial instruments such as CFDs involves risks, particularly due to volatility, potential leverage and market-specific conditions. It is essential to learn about how the products used work and the role of each commodity broker, in accordance with the applicable regulatory framework.
Commodity trading can be carried out in various ways. Among these, CFDs (Contracts for Difference) allow you to gain exposure to price movements without physically owning the underlying asset. Used on many online trading platforms, these products are widely available for assets such as oil, gold, wheat and natural gas.
A CFD, or Contract for Difference, is a derivative financial instrument that replicates the price movements of an underlying asset, such as a commodity. When trading commodity CFDs, the investor does not become the owner of the asset (barrel of oil, ounce of gold, tonne of wheat, etc.), but can benefit from exposure to its price in real time, whether it rises or falls.
These products are offered by a registered or regulated commodity broker via a trading platform. A CFD is a contract between the trader and the platform and does not go through a centralised market like futures or listed stocks.
Commodity trading via CFDs is based on a simplified interface, often accessible online from a computer or mobile app. Users can view live prices, set up buy or sell orders, and adjust their exposure.
Commodity CFDs include many assets: oil (Brent, WTI), gold, copper, wheat, soybeans, natural gas, etc. Access is usually immediate after registration, but requires an understanding of market conditions, associated fees, and the operating mechanisms specific to each platform.
These products also involve a key concept: leverage. This allows you to use a small amount of capital to gain greater exposure. However, leverage amplifies both gains and losses.
Trading commodities with CFDs involves a high level of risk. The volatility of the commodities market can cause significant price movements in a very short period of time. This volatility is often linked to external factors such as political decisions, economic data, weather conditions or geopolitical tensions.
The use of leverage increases the risk of rapid capital loss, even on small price movements. In addition, some platforms apply a margin call when the account balance becomes insufficient to cover potential losses. This mechanism can lead to automatic closure of positions and, in some cases, to a loss greater than the initial capital invested (unless negative balance protection is in place, which is now often required in Europe).
It is therefore essential to fully understand the risks associated with CFDs before trading on the commodities market.
CFDs on commodities are subject to strict regulatory oversight within the European Union. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has implemented several protective measures to limit the risks associated with these complex financial instruments, particularly for retail clients.
Since 2018, ESMA regulations have included:
These rules are designed to enhance transparency and protect non-professional investors from significant and rapid losses when trading CFDs.
Commodity trading provides exposure to the prices of strategic resources such as oil, gold, copper and agricultural products. Accessible via regulated platforms, it is based on financial instruments such as commodity CFDs, which allow you to trade without owning the physical assets.
Trading commodities requires a good understanding of the underlying assets, market mechanisms and associated risks, particularly those related to volatility and leverage. These factors can lead to a rapid loss of the capital invested.
Online platforms offer simplified tools, but using them requires familiarity with the features, fees and conditions specific to each commodity broker. CFDs are regulated by regulatory authorities (ESMA), with strict obligations regarding the protection of individuals.
Investing in commodities via these instruments should be done with caution, within a well-defined framework, and without any guaranteed performance objectives. It is essential to obtain in-depth information before trading on the commodities market.
Commodities often react to geopolitical, climatic or economic events. This sensitivity to external factors can lead to sharp fluctuations, making them dynamic markets that are closely monitored in periods of global uncertainty or imbalance.
The commodities market encompasses several key sectors, including energy, metals and agricultural products. This diversity offers a global view of the real economy and provides exposure to a variety of dynamics, depending on the sector and economic cycle.
Thanks to CFDs, ETFs and futures contracts, individuals can access commodity markets without physically owning the assets. These instruments offer simplified exposure but carry a high risk of rapid loss, particularly due to leverage.