Commodities are the lifeblood of global trade. Every day, ships carry millions of tonnes of oil, grain, coal, metals, and timber – and every shift in price, production, or policy sends ripples across the maritime world.
This subcategory connects learners to the commodities that fill the vessels – and the market dynamics that decide what moves, when, and where. From soybean exports in Brazil to LNG shipments from Qatar, understanding these patterns is key to grasping global maritime rhythms.
• Commodity analysts (banks, trade houses, research firms)
• Market reporters at Bloomberg, Reuters, Argus Media, S&P Global
• Specialist platforms like Commodity Conversations (Jonathan Kingsman)
• Trade & shipping companies who issue market insights and data
• Economists at UNCTAD, FAO, WTO
• Energy – oil, LNG, coal
• Agricultural – wheat, maize, soy, sugar, coffee
• Metals – iron ore, copper, aluminum
• Softs – cotton, cocoa, rubber
• Timber, fishery products, fertilizers
The world’s first major commodity traders – like the Hanseatic League and later 19th-century grain merchants – built their power not just on products, but on information. Price signals, harvest forecasts, weather reports, and shipping availability were the core of early maritime commerce.
Today, digital dashboards and AI algorithms have replaced parchment and pigeons – but the principle remains: to succeed in trade, you must know what the world needs and where it’s going.
Students: To understand what ships carry, and why.
Maritime professionals: To follow cargo trends and anticipate volume shifts.
Investors and analysts: To link global events with cargo flows.
Agri & energy professionals: To connect market insights with maritime logistics.
Without an understanding of commodity flows, maritime trade becomes abstract. This subcategory reveals what’s really moving inside the containers, tankers, and bulk carriers – and how climate, conflict, consumption, and speculation drive the currents of trade.
1. Do you follow global commodity news? Which sectors interest you most – energy, agriculture, metals?
2. Can you think of a recent commodity price change that affected maritime shipping?
3. What tools or platforms help you stay informed about global supply and demand?
