Classification

The term “raw material” refers to the basic substance or material that is used to produce goods or finished products. Raw materials can be natural resources such as minerals, metals, agricultural products, or synthetic materials like chemicals and plastics.

A commodity is a basic good used in trade that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type.

On the other hand, a commodity is a type of raw material that is traded on an exchange. Commodities are standardized goods that are produced in large quantities and are interchangeable with other similar goods. They are often used as inputs in the production of other goods or as a basis for futures contracts.

In summary, while all commodities can be considered raw materials, not all raw materials are commodities. Commodities are a specific subset of raw materials that are traded on exchanges.

Raw materials are often used to create other goods or services. Examples of raw materials are oil, Natural gas, grains like wheat, precious metals like gold and platinum and base metals like copper or iron.

NYMEX

In 1872 a group of dairy traders founded "The Butter and Cheese Exchange of New York" and in 1994 the NYMEX merged with the COMEX (Commodity Exchange). Futures and options on energy and precious metals have become major tools as companies seek to manage risk by hedging their positions. The ease with which these instruments are traded is crucial to hedging activities and assessing future prices, making NYMEX an important part of the trading and hedging worlds.

Gold (from Latin aurum, "shining") is a bright, hard, ductile and malleable yellow transition metal that does not react with most chemicals. At room temperature it appears as a solid. Gold is one of the most traditional investments in the world and is characterized above all by security and liquidity. It is estimated that more than half of the world's gold production is used for this purpose. Investing in gold can be an excellent option for those who expect a medium to long-term return and diversify their investments, To hedge investments or reduce losses due to market volatility.

Other economic applications of this commodity are limited to its use as raw materials for the aviation and electronics industries, as well as dentistry and jewelry. The yellow metal is typically seen as a haven for investors during times of uncertainty. It can be used as a generally recognized value-added asset when investors lose confidence in other commodities in the stock and foreign exchange markets.

Charakteristic

Gold is a bright transition metal, yellow, dense, malleable, ductile (trivalent and monovalent), and does not react with most chemicals, but is sensitive to chlorine and bromine. At room temperature it is a solid. This metal is usually found in pure or nugget form and alluvial deposits. It is one of the metals traditionally used to make money coins. It is easily handled and molded that with just one gram of gold it is possible to obtain a wire 3 km long and 0.005 millimeters in diameter or a square blade 70 cm wide and 0.1 micrometer thick. Pure gold is too soft to be used in many applications. For this reason, it is usually a hardened alloy mixed with silver and copper.

History

Archaeologists suggest that the first use of gold began with the first civilizations in the Middle East. It may have been the first metal used by humanity. The oldest artifact in gold was found in the tomb of the Egyptian Queen Zer. Discovered in Sumer, Egypt, Egyptian hieroglyphs date back to 2600 BC. BC describe the metal that is referred to in various places in the Old Testament. It is considered one of the most valuable metals and its value has been used as a standard for many currencies throughout history. Although gold has been around since 3,000 B.C. After being used as currency in the late eighteenth century, gold gained universal monetary status. Most of the world's gold production is absorbed by the United States, which uses it for coinage and especially for bank reserves and collateral settlement in international business transactions.

Usage

Gold performs critical functions in computers, communications, spacecraft, aircraft engines and many other products. Its high electrical conductivity and oxidation resistance have enabled its widespread use in electrodeposition, or covering the surfaces of electrical connections with a layer of gold. The same process can be used to gold plate parts, increasing their beauty and value. Like silver, gold can form amalgams with mercury, which are sometimes used in dental restorations.

Markets

The gold market is part of the group of so-called risk markets because their prices vary depending on supply and demand. In the international market, the global benchmark for gold trading is the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX), where it negotiates future contracts for that commodity. Gold prices in this market are based on the troy ounce, which is 31.104 grams.

Silver (Ag) is a precious metallic element that appears white and bright in its natural state. The chemical and mechanical properties of inorganic compounds and alloys, used not only for the production of jewelry and coins, also allow the use of silver in various sectors of the economy. Despite the metal's use by a growing number of industries, the world market for silver is extremely modest compared to other metal goods. Because the industry entry status designates it as a non-valuable metal, the price of silver has been undervalued for decades. The last major burst of interest in the commodity occurred in 1979, when the Hunt brothers allied with a group of Arab investors and purchased 200 million ounces of silver, half of the world's supply at the time. This year, the price of an ounce of metal in the United States rose from five to fifty-four US dollars. This bubble burst in 1980, causing losses of up to 50% in one day.

Charakteristic

Silver or Argent (the Platta Vulgar Latin, Argentum) is a chemical element with the symbol Ag and an atomic number of 47 (47 protons and 47 electrons). Silver is solid at room temperature. The origin of the word silver is Indo-European, "arhhg", meaning bright, and in Sanskrit, "air-jun", also meaning bright. It is estimated to have been discovered shortly after copper and gold. Most silver is produced as a byproduct of mining for lead and copper. It is the most conductive among metals.

History

Silver has been used for thousands of years in the manufacture of ornaments and utensils, as well as in trade as the basis of many monetary systems. The chemical symbol Ag comes from the Latin word Argentum (comparable to the Greek word Argyros), the Indo-European root *Arg, meaning "white" or "bright". Mentioned in the Book of Genesis, silver has been used since at least the fourth millennium BC. B.C. Separated from lead using open-cast mining. The stability of the Roman currency system rested on a large quantity of silver bullion, which the Romans produced on an unprecedented scale before the new world of discovery. A peak production of 200 tons per year, an estimated reserve of 10,000 tons of silver circulating in the Roman economy in the 2nd century is five to ten times the sum of the silver quantities available in medieval Europe.

Usage

Silver is used:
- in jewelry as a precious metal;
- as coin material;
- In electronics because of its excellent electrical conductivity, the highest of all elements;
- In photography, silver salts are light sensitive;
- used in the manufacture of musical instruments, mainly wind;
- In membranes or conductive coils for tweeters;
- Radiology, in which one of the components of the X-ray film is a silver salt, usually bromide;
- In the manufacture of mirrors.

Markets

The main commodity futures are traded on the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM). The price of internationally traded futures is expressed in dollars per troy ounce, which is approximately 10.31 grams.

Platinum is a precious metal that, when pure, has a white-opaque gray color. It has low ductility and high ductility. This metal is corrosion resistant and dissolves in most acids. These properties qualify platinum as a major transition metal and are an essential element for industry. In nature, platinum is found alone (as rounded or flattened grains, so-called platinum nuggets) in its native form or in combination with other metals such as titanium, osmium, iridium, palladium and rhodium. The product is mainly used in the production of electrodes, as a raw material for jewelry and various applications in medicine. This element is also often used as a catalyst in chemical reactions. The jewelry industry accounts for 51% of the total demand for this raw material. It is used extensively in the computer and electronics industry because platinum is an excellent conductor of electricity that does not corrode and has low reactivity with other metals. Mostly found in the sand of rivers and East German deposits. The world's largest platinum reserves are in Russia (Ural Rivers), South Africa (Transvaal), Colombia (Atrato and San Juan Rivers), Canada, Sumatra and Borneo. To a lesser extent, this product can be found in the USA (California) and Brazil (Minas Gerais). The producers are Portugal and Bangladesh. Platinum is one of the rarest metals in the world. World production of this commodity is approximately 5 million troy ounces per year. Because of its scarcity (low supply), platinum is more valuable than gold or silver, although not as sought after (low demand). Future platinum contracts are primarily traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM).

Charakteristic

Platinum (the Spanish platinum, diminutive of Plata, silver) has a chemical element symbol of Pt, atomic number 78 (78 protons and 78 electrons) and atomic mass of 195 u. It is a dense, malleable, ductile chemical element that is poorly reactive. It's a transition metal. The name is derived from the Spanish term platinum, whose literal translation is "little silver". It is found primarily in the deposits of nickel and copper ores, mainly in South Africa, where 80% of world production occurs. It is considered the most noble metal because of its scarcity in the earth's crust, which has produced only a few million tons. Platinum is a chemical element with low reactivity. It has exceptional corrosion resistance, even at high temperatures, and is also considered a precious metal.

History

The Andean people found platinum and used it as a substitute for silver. It was made known by the Spanish in 1735 when the navigator, explorer and Spanish astronomer Antonio de Ulloa arrived in South America. In 1741 it was brought to China. For several centuries it was used for goldsmithing due to its similarity in density. Charles Wood, a metallurgist, found several samples of Colombian platinum in Jamaica, where he sent William Brownrigg to investigate. Antonio de Ulloa, also known as the discoverer of platinum, returned from Spain in 1746 to the Geodetic Mission of France and spent an eight-year journey. It is said that during this expedition, he described the platinum calcination process is irreplaceable, anticipating the results of the platinum mines. After publishing this study in 1748, he stopped exploring this new metal. In 1758 he was sent to superintend mercury mining in Huancavelica. In 1786, Carlos III of Spain provided a library and laboratory for Pierre-François Chabaneau to aid in her research on platinum. Chabaneau managed to remove various impurities in platinum, including gold, mercury, lead, copper and iron. He believed he was working with a simple metal, but trusted that the rock contained an unknown chemical element from PGMs. This led to inconsistent results in their experiments. At the time, he noticed that platinum appeared to be malleable, but when mixed with iridium, it became much more fragile. Occasionally the material experienced complete combustion, but when it was charged with osmium, he noticed that it became a more volatile material. After a few months, he managed to produce 23 kilograms of pure, malleable platinum by stamping and pressing using a rubrobranca-colored sponge. Together with Joaquín Cabezas, he began producing bars and platinum paraphernalia commercially. This triggered the so-called “Platinum Age” in Spain. In 1824 it was found and commercialized in large numbers in Russia (Urals). In 2007, Gerhard Ertl received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for determining in detail the molecular mechanisms of carbon monoxide oxidation in a catalytic platinum converter.

Usage

Around 245 tons of platinum were sold in 2010, 113 tons were used in exhaust gas purification devices (46%) and 76 tons for jewelry (31%). The remainder, about 35.5 tons, was used for various other minority applications such as financial applications, electrodes, cancer drugs, lambda sensors, spark plugs and turbines.
other applications:
- Military uniform, worn on the shoulder to deliver the patent.
- used in luxury weapons, especially for manifolds and details in rifled barrels;
- Manufacture of surgical items such as nails, pipes and other tests;
- in prosthetic dentistry for implants and fixation drills;
- Used in the tips of spark plugs and the tips of lightning rods;
- For making gloves that can withstand high temperatures;
- Implants in medicine, such as the IUD (Intra Uterine Device);
- Manufacture of musical, dental and electromagnetic instruments.
- In medicine in the fight against cancer, chemotherapy;
- Used in the ceramic industry as a decorative element in tiles.

Markets

Platinum futures contracts are primarily traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM).

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from Latin: cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a reddish-orange color. It is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a component of various metal alloys.

Charakteristic

Copper occupies the same family in the periodic table as silver and gold. In terms of electronic structure, copper has one orbital electron on a filled electron shell similar to silver and gold. Copper, like almost all metals, is commonly used for industrial and commercial purposes in fine-grain polycrystalline form. Polycrystalline metal has more strength than monocrystalline forms, especially for smaller grains (crystal). It is easy to work and is both ductile (easy to wire) and malleable. The ease with which it can be applied makes it useful for electrical work as well as its high electrical conductivity. Copper has a reddish, orange or brown color due to a thin layer of oxidation. Pure copper is pink or peach colored. Copper along with osmium (blue), cesium and gold (both yellow) are the only four elemental metals with a natural color other than gray or silver.

History

Copper was probably the first metal mined and worked by humans. It was originally extracted as a native mineral and later from mineral casting. It is believed that the first discovery of copper by humans was around 9000 BC. BC took place in the Middle East. Copper objects from 6000 BC 400 BC were found in Çatal Höyük, Anatolia. In 5000 BC. People smelted and refined copper from oxides such as malachite and azurite. The earliest evidence of the use of gold was not found until 4000 BC. The Sumerians used copper and bronze as readily as 3000 BC. BC, Egyptians and at the same time, including copper pipes. The Egyptians also discovered that the addition of small amounts of tin facilitated and improved methods of extracting brass; observing the durability of the material, the copper represented the ankh, the symbol of eternal life. In ancient China, copper is known to have existed for at least 2,000 years B.C.E. was used, and around 1200 BC. A highly qualified production of bronze was carried out - a clear rule in metallurgy without comparison by the West. The Iceman, whose remains are 5,300 years old, was found in Tyrol (Italy) in 1991 and was accompanied by a copper ax with a purity of 99.7%. It is possible that copper is the oldest metal used in making tools. Objects have been dated back to 8700 B.C.E. The Phoenician people (Phoenicia was an ancient Semitic thalassocratic civilization) exported copper to Greece without exploring the mines of their territory, as evidenced by the names of the cities of Calce, Chalcis, and Calcitis.

Usage

The main applications for copper are wires (60%), coverings and hydraulics (20%) and industrial machinery (15%). Copper is mainly used as a pure metal, but when higher toughness is required it is combined with other elements to make alloys (5% of total use), such as brass or bronze. A small portion of the copper supply is used in the production of nutritional supplements and agricultural fungicides.

Markets

Major futures and copper options are traded on the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) and the London Metal Exchange (LME).

Palladium is a silvery-white metal, similar to platinum. Palladium has a lower density and melting point than platinum. It is soft and ductile when heated and significantly increases its hardness and resistance when cold. This commodity is usually extracted along with platinum. Palladium can also be found during nickel mining. The main palladium producing countries are Russia, South Africa, the United States and Brazil. Russia is responsible for supplying 67% of global palladium production, while South Africa and North America account for 23% and 8% of the raw material, respectively. It is estimated that total production of palladium is around eight million ounces.

Charakteristic

Palladium is a chemical element with the symbol "Pd" and an atomic number of 46 (46 protons and 46 electrons). At room temperature, palladium is a solid. Palladium is a silvery white metal like platinum, it does not oxidize with air and is a lower density, lower melting point platinum group element. It is soft and ductile when heated and significantly increases its hardness and resistance when cold. It can be dissolved in sulfuric acid, H2SO4, nitric acid and HNO3. It can also be slowly dissolved in hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the presence of chlorine or oxygen.

History

William Hyde Wollaston recorded the discovery of a new precious metal in his laboratory specifications in July 1802 and named it palladium in August of that year. Wollaston cleaned the material sufficiently and sold it in a small shop in Soho in April 1803. After a harsh criticism of Richard Chenevix that palladium would be an alloy of platinum and mercury, Wollaston offered an anonymous reward of £20 for 20 grains "on" synthetic palladium. Chenevix received the Copley Medal in 1803 after publishing his experiments with palladium. Wollaston published the discovery of rhodium in 1804 and mentions his work with palladium. He revealed that he was the discoverer of palladium in an 1805 publication.

Usage

In the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, palladium is used as a catalyst for hydrogenation reactions. In the oil industry, palladium is important in catalytic petroleum distillate fractions. The element can also be found in some alloys used in dentistry. In jewelry, palladium is hardened with a small fraction of ruthenium or rhodium or can be used to decolorize gold, producing so-called "white gold."

Markets

Futures Palladium contracts are traded primarily on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM).

Aluminum is the most common metallic element in the earth's crust. Its lightness, electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance and low melting point offer a variety of applications, particularly in aerospace engineering. However, even with the low cost of recycling, which increases its lifespan and the stability of its value, the high energy requirement for its production significantly reduces its scale. Aluminum is one of the economic symbols of the 21st century. The multibillion-dollar industry is present in the transportation sectors, which account for about 30% of U.S. production of the commodity. Packaging and containers account for over 20% of total production. The construction is around 10%. High-voltage lines are often made of aluminum. This is a business that moves billions of dollars. The main aluminum producing countries are the United States, Russia, Japan and Canada.

Charakteristic

Aluminum is the second most malleable metal, first gold, and sixth most ductile. As a good heat conductor, it is widely used in cooking pots and laptops.

History

In ancient Rome, aluminum was used in dyeing and medicine. Its first use is usually attributed to Friedrich Wöhler, who occurred in 1827, although the metal had been roughly obtained by Hans Christian Ørsted several years before. In 1807, Humphrey Davy proposed the name aluminum for this yet undiscovered metal. Later the name was changed to aluminum to ensure consistency with most other Latin names of the elements that use the suffix -ium. This is how the current element names were derived in other languages. However, over time it became popular in the United States and is now recognized by the IUPAC. Although aluminum is a metal that is abundant in the Earth's crust (8.1%), it is rarely found free. Their industrial applications are relatively new, having been produced on an industrial scale since the late nineteenth century. When it was discovered, it was found to be extremely difficult to separate from the rocks it contained. As a result, it has been considered a precious metal for some time, more valuable than gold. With the progression of the processes of obtaining the prizes further coincided in 1889, due to the earlier discovery of a simple method of metal extraction. Currently, one of the factors that stimulates its use is price stability, which is mainly maintained through recycling.

Usage

The use of aluminum exceeds that of any other metal except steel. It is an important material in several economic activities. Pure aluminum is ductile relative to steel, but when used as an alloy with small amounts of copper, manganese, silicon, magnesium and other elements, it contains a large number of properties suitable for various applications. These alloys are the key materials used in the manufacture of many components in aircraft and rockets. Due to its high chemical reactivity when finely pulverized, it is used as a solid rocket fuel and for making explosives. It is still used as a sacrificial anode and aluminothermal process for extracting metals.

Markets

Futures contracts and aluminum options traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) provide transparency to the U.S. aluminum market. This market is worth $35 billion annually in production and export. The Tokyo Commodity Exchange (TOCOM) and the Metal Commodity Exchange in London (LME) also offer aluminum.

Brent Crude Oil is a major trade type of sweet light crude that is considered a major reference price for oil purchases worldwide. This type of oil is called "light" because of its low density and sweet because of its low sulfur content.

Charakteristic

Brent crude oil is a light crude oil (LCO), but heavier than West Texas Intermediate (WTI). It contains approximately 0.4% sulfur, which classifies it as a sweet crude oil, but not as sweet as WTI. Brent is suitable for the production of gasoline and middle distillates. It is typically refined in northwestern Europe.

History

More than four thousand years ago, Asphault was used to build the walls and towers of Babylon; There were oil mines near Ardericca (near Babylon) and a source of pitch on Zacynthos (Greece).

Usage

Brent crude oil has a wide range of uses, from the production of plastics to energy production. 44% of Brent crude oil is used in the production of gasoline.

Markets

The ICE Futures Europe symbol for Brent crude oil futures is B. Brent crude oil was originally traded on the international Open Petroleum Exchange in London, but has been traded on the Electronic Intercontinental Exchange, or ICE, since 2005.

Heating oil is a major trading form of sweet light crude oil that serves as the main benchmark price for oil purchases around the world. This type of oil is called "light" because of its low density and sweet because of its low sulfur content.

Charakteristic

Heating oil is a light crude oil (LCO) but heavier than West Texas Intermediate (WTI). It contains approximately 0.4% sulfur, which classifies it as a sweet crude oil, but not as sweet as WTI. Heating oil is suitable for the production of gasoline and middle distillates. It is typically refined in northwestern Europe.

History

More than four thousand years ago, Asphault was used to build the walls and towers of Babylon; There were oil mines near Ardericca (near Babylon) and a source of pitch on Zacynthos (Greece).

Usage

Heating oil has a wide range of applications, such as energy production. Heating oil is used in the production of gasoline, less than Brent Crude Oil.

Markets

Heating oil was originally traded on the open international International Oil Exchange in London, but since 2005 it has been traded on the Electronic Intercontinental Exchange, or ICE.

Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons of fossil origin, alone or mixed with oil, with methane having a higher proportion of over 70% by volume of the composition. The composition of natural gas can vary greatly depending on factors related to the area in which the gas was produced and the method of producing, conditioning, processing and transporting the substance.

Charakteristic

The composition of natural gas can vary widely depending on factors related to the reservoir production process, conditioning, processing and transportation. In general, natural gas has a methane content of more than 70% of its composition, a density of less than 1 and a high thermal output between 8,000 and 10,000 kcal / m3.

History

One of the first historical records of the economic or social use of natural gas can be found in China in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Chinese used mineral natural gas leaks to build blast furnaces for ceramics and metalwork.

Usage

Natural gas is used directly as a fuel, both in industry and in private homes and cars. It is considered a cleaner source of energy than petroleum and coal.

Markets

Futures and natural gas options contracts are traded primarily on the two largest energy commodity trading markets: the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

The civilized world became aware of the existence of cocoa and chocolate only after Christopher Columbus landed in America. Until then, it was the privilege of the Indians who lived in southern Mexico, Central America and the Amazon basin, where cacao grew naturally through the forest.

Charakteristic

Cocoa is a tropical plant belonging to the Esterculiáceas family, found in America, both in terrasbaixas in the dark and humid forests under the shelter of large trees, more rarely in lush forests, at variable altitudes between 0 and 1000 meters from sea level .. After fermentation, the fruits of the cocoa seeds are extracted into almonds, which are used to make cocoa powder and cocoa butter.

History

Cocoa comes from the tropical regions of Central America. Cocoa was considered a spicy fruit by the Mayan civilization, a dish to be eaten with "thrift and elegance" because of its bitter taste; and was given directly to men by the gods; and before Christopher Columbus, was only consumed by priests. And, cocoa was used as a currency in trade. At the time, Portugal and Brazil had been using cacao as Quazzi currency for export for hundreds of years.

Usage

Cocoa is used in the manufacture of chocolate by grinding the dry bean. Other cocoa by-products include pulp, juice, jam, spirits and ice cream.

Markets

Cocoa futures contracts are traded primarily on the London Mercantile Exchange (LIFFE), the New York Goods Stock Exchange (NYMEX) and the Intercontinental Commodities Exchange (ICE).

The cotton industry is mainly concentrated in seven countries: China, USA, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and Brazil, which account for around 80% of global cotton production. Since it is a commodity with high production costs, countries that apply a higher level of technology in the production of cotton fiber can influence the price of cotton. Although China is the world's largest producer, it does not export its cotton production. The United States controls about 40% of the world cotton market. This performance is supported by a number of subsidies that the US government provides to local producers, such as the Productivity Guarantee.

Charakteristic

Cotton is a white or whitish fiber obtained from fruits of some species of the genus Gossypium, Malvaceae. There are many species native to tropical areas of Africa, Asia and the Americas, and fabrics using cotton have been made since the end of the last ice ages. Currently, only 4 species are widely used for the production of medical instruments and tissues. The cotton plant is a subtropical plant widespread in Mexico, Australia and Africa.

History

Cotton has been used for at least 7,000 years. We found evidence of cotton in Mehrgarh, where the first cotton yarns were preserved in copper beads. The cultivation of cotton became more widespread during the Indus Valley Civilization, which covered parts of modern eastern and northwestern Pakistan from India. The cotton industry was well developed and some methods used in cotton spinning and manufacturing continued to be used until the industrialization of India.

Usage

Cotton is used to make a number of textiles. These include bath towels and bathrobes; denim for blue jeans; Socks, underwear and most shirts. Bed linen is often made from cotton. Cotton is also used to make the yarns for knitting and crocheting. Fabrics can also be made from recycled or reclaimed cotton that would otherwise be discarded during the spinning, weaving or cutting process. While many fabrics are made entirely of cotton, some fabrics blend cotton with other fibers, including rayon and synthetic fibers such as polyester. It can be used either knitted or woven as it can be mixed with elastin to create a more elastic thread for knitwear and garments such as trousers.

Markets

Futures and cotton contracts are traded primarily on the Commodities and Futures Exchange (BM & FBOVESPA) and the New York Mercantile Exchange (ICE).

The coffee plant is a perennial plant that grows in tropical climates. This plant belongs to the rubiácea family. Coffea arabica (Arabica coffee) and Coffea canephora (Robusta coffee) are of great economic interest, representing 70% and 30% of global coffee production, respectively.

Charakteristic

Coffee is a drink made from roasted coffee beans. It is traditionally served hot, but can also be eaten cold. Coffee is a stimulant that contains caffeine (usually 80 and 140 mg per 207 ml depending on the preparation method).

History

The history of coffee consumption began in the ninth century. Coffee comes from the highlands of Ethiopia (as well as from Sudan and Kenya) and spread throughout the world, initially through Egypt and Europe. Contrary to popular belief, the word coffee does not originally come from kaffa, the place of origin of the plant, but from the Arabic word qahwa, which means wine.

Usage

Coffee is currently the most consumed beverage in the world, with around 400 billion cups consumed each year. Moderate coffee consumption (three to four cups per day) can prevent many health problems as diverse as Parkinson's, depression, diabetes, gallstones and colon cancer.

Markets

Futures and Arabica coffee options contracts are traded primarily on the Commodities and Futures Exchange (BM&F), the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and the Intercontinental Commodities Exchange (ICE). Robusta coffee futures and options contracts are traded primarily on the London Mercantile Exchange (LIFFE) and the Intercontinental Commodities Exchange (ICE).

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Australia is the largest beef exporter in the world. Feeder cattle are steers (castrated male cows) or female cows that are old enough to be moved to a feed field where they are fattened before slaughter. Feeder calves are less than 1 year old; Feeder yearlings are between 1 and 2 years old.

Charakteristic

Feeder Cattle is a term that describes cows between 1 and 6 months of age. They are unsuitable for slaughter until they are older, but are still freely traded. Feeder cattle weigh approximately 170-200kg and can later be bred for slaughter.

History

The beef industry is the largest agricultural enterprise in Australia and the second largest beef exporting country in the world after Brazil. The industry gained an advantage following the discovery of BSE (also known as mad cow disease) in Canada, Japan and the United States, as Australia is free of the disease. Thin calf skins have been used since the early Middle Ages in the production of parchment, which was then used in the production of manuscripts and books. The word "livestock" comes from Latin and means "head of cattle". Humans have domesticated cattle since the Neolithic (Age of Polished Stone) for meat and milk. Today it is estimated that Australia has a herd of more than 25 million cattle.

Usage

Feeder cattle are cattle between 1 and 6 months of age that are not ready for slaughter but are widely sold to producers for aging, fattening and slaughter. Dairy cows are intended for raising cattle with meat production for human consumption. Cattle are kept in small enclosures and fed specific feed. In this type of farming, the meat produced is soft and of good quality for consumption. Cattle can also live in a field and feed on grass. The meat of cows that are grass-fed and live in a field is tough because the cattle develop stronger and stiffer muscles.

Markets

The main beef contracts are traded on the Brazilian Mercantile and Futures Exchange (BM&F), the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).