Inside Commodity Markets

How Commodities Are Traded: Spot Market  

In the spot market, commodities are bought and sold for immediate delivery at current market prices.  

Transactions occur "on the spot," reflecting real-time supply and demand.  

Spot trading is common for physical commodities where producers and consumers need immediate exchange, such as farmers selling crops or manufacturers purchasing metals.  

Prices in the spot market serve as a benchmark for futures contracts and are crucial indicators of current market conditions.

Producers Pivot as Spot Prices Surge  

After the Ostara crisis sends oil prices soaring, some producers ramp up output to sell more crude on the spot market — taking advantage of the soaring prices. 

Emergency decisions focus on maximizing short-term gains without straining operations. 

Meanwhile, independent refineries that rely on buying crude face rising costs and shrinking margins. 

This shift shows how producers respond to price spikes. 

Responding quickly to the swings of the spot market can boost profits, but it also puts pressure on buyers downstream.

What are Commodity Futures? 

Commodity futures are contracts to buy or sell a raw material — like oil, soybeans, or steel — at a set price on a future date. 

They are standardized and traded on exchanges, allowing producers and consumers to hedge against price fluctuations.  

For example, a farmer can lock in a price for their crop before harvest, protecting income if prices fall due to a market glut. 

Investors also use futures to speculate on price movements, aiming to profit from market volatility.

Kenzo Assesses VoltMatter’s Hedging Strategy 

VoltMatter had locked in cobalt futures before the Ostara coup, giving the company breathing room as prices surged. 

The hedges shielded battery production from immediate cost spikes. 

But rare earths are a different story. Neodymium and dysprosium, used in high-performance magnets, aren’t covered by standardized futures. 

Worse, their dysprosium supplier relied on Ostara’s mines. 

Kenzo leads a search for alternatives. With delivery delays and rising prices, the team must act fast.