Commodity futures are a type of financial contract that allows investors to buy or sell a specific amount of a commodity at a set price on a future date. For example, an investor might buy a contract to buy 1,000 bushels of corn at $5 per bushel in three months. If the price of corn rises to $5.50 per bushel in three months, the investor can sell the contract for a profit of $500.
There are many benefits to buying commodity futures. For one, they can be used to hedge against price risk. For example, a farmer who is expecting to harvest a large crop of corn in three months might buy a futures contract to sell the corn at a set price, locking in a profit regardless of what the market price is at the time of the harvest. Futures contracts can also be used by businesses to speculate on the future price of a commodity. For example, a food company might buy a futures contract to buy sugar at a set price in three months, hoping that the price of sugar will rise before then, allowing the company to sell the contract for a profit.