Top commodities to invest in today

In times of economic uncertainty and inflation, savvy investors are turning toward the top commodities to invest in for diversification, stability, and growth.

In this article, we’ll explore what is a commodity, take a look at what are the most traded commodities, and break down the top 10 commodities to invest in today. You’ll also learn how to invest in commodities, the risks involved, and why carbon credits are emerging as a powerful new asset class.

What is a commodity?

A commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type. Common commodity examples include crude oil, natural gas, gold, wheat, and increasingly, carbon credits. Commodities can be physical (like metals or grains) or digital/financial (like environmental assets or carbon units).

What is a primary characteristic of commodities as an investment vehicle?

Commodities are known for their tangibility, standardization, and global pricing. One defining trait is their volatility, driven by supply–demand imbalances, geopolitical tensions, and macroeconomic shifts. Unlike stocks, commodities do not yield dividends — their value relies heavily on market timing and future price expectations.

In which category do commodities belong?

In the world of finance, commodities are classified as alternative investments, alongside real estate, private equity, and hedge funds. They’re not tied to traditional equity markets, which makes them ideal for diversifying portfolios and hedging against inflation.

What can be traded in a commodities market?

The commodities market includes a wide range of tangible and intangible assets, including:

• Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum)

• Energy (crude oil, natural gas, coal, uranium)

• Agricultural goods (soybeans, corn, wheat, cotton, sugar)

• Livestock (cattle, hogs, poultry)

• Industrial metals (copper, aluminum, nickel, lithium)

• Water rights and timber in some regions

• Soft commodities (coffee, cocoa, orange juice)

Coffee is one of the top commodities to invest in today. AI generated picture.

• Digital commodities (tokenized environmental units, blockchain-backed resource contracts)

• Emerging environmental commodities (carbon credits, renewable energy certificates)

These are just some of the many options available for those researching the top commodities to invest in today.

Why can it be risky to invest in a commodity?

Commodity trading comes with several risks to take into account:

• High volatility due to weather, geopolitical instability, or regulation

• Lack of dividends or yield unless through structured funds

• Complex pricing models
  

• Leverage risk in futures and options trading

Still, many of the top commodities to invest in can be accessed safely through ETFs, mutual funds, or professionally managed commodity trading platforms.

Discover more: How investors can navigate a volatile stock market

Best commodities to invest in

Below is a comparative overview of some of the most widely discussed and researched commodities in today’s market, including factors like accessibility, volatility, environmental impact, and potential growth. This list is intended for illustrative purposes and to help readers better understand how different commodities compare across various attributes.

Graph: Top 10 commodities to invest in (based on market data as at mid-2025 and does not constitute financial advice)

What is a commodity someone might invest in?

A commodity in which someone invests might include an energy asset like natural gas, a soft good like cocoa, or a digital offset like carbon credits. Let’s examine the pros and cons of some of the most notable ones:

• Gold is considered low risk and has historical value, but due to its mature market, returns are typically modest.

• Uranium offers high upside, but access is limited, often only available via commodity stocks or specialized ETFs.

• Coffee and cocoa are high-demand products, but are subject to extreme volatility, driven by weather and global trade policy.

• Carbon credits, however, tick all the boxes:

1. 1. Double-digit returns — driven by increasing carbon prices, rising regulatory pressure, and rapid market growth.

   2. Risk level: Low — supported by government policies and backed by major corporations’ commitment to net-zero targets.

   3. Risk diversification: Spanning reforestation, habitat restoration, and energy-efficiency projects.
   4. Market stability: High — demand is policy-driven and increasing every year.

Unlike other commodities, carbon credits are less affected by typical risks such as extreme price fluctuations, market saturation, or speculative overexposure. Its pricing is often supported by growing sustainability commitments, the global drive to net zero, long-term government regulations, and international agreements, making them more predictable in the medium and long term.

Discover more: How to invest in carbon credits

Why are carbon credits the newest hot commodity?

The emergence of a high-demand commodity

Carbon credits are increasingly being recognized as a hot commodity — both as a financial product and a strategic hedge. As countries tighten emissions laws and businesses race to meet net-zero targets, carbon credits have become a form of commodity money in a new green economy.

EY, McKinsey, and BCG, alongside Morgan Stanley, which all anticipate a multi-fold expansion, suggest a voluntary carbon market value ranging from $30 billion to $50 billion by 2030. The more optimistic outlooks from Goldman Sachs and Wood Mackenzie forecast a market size of $100 billion by 2030, indicating potential for exponential growth if the right conditions and commitments persist. 

A conservative projection comes from PwC, estimating growth of up to $30 billion by the same year — still a 10-fold growth compared to today’s $3 billion market. The consensus across all price predictions is the rapid and substantial growth of the carbon credit market, marking it as a promising long-term investment opportunity.  

In addition, the global carbon market could grow from $695 billion in 2025 to over $4 trillion by 2030 according to a Grand View Research report, making it one of the top commodities to invest in of the decade. When investors purchase a commodity, they believe in its scarcity and future demand — and carbon credits are perfectly positioned for that approach.

Why nature‑based carbon credits are increasingly popular

Not all carbon credits are equal — and credits from nature‑based solutions (NBS) stand out for delivering measurable additional benefits beyond carbon mitigation. In addition to restoring ecosystems, NBS often improve livelihoods, economic opportunity, and community wellbeing.

Here are some compelling examples of their impact:

• Nearly 60 million people are currently employed in NBS-related work globally — with the potential to increase to up to 32 million new jobs by 2030.

• The World Bank supports projects with active initiatives expected to reach 19.4 million people impacted and restore 3.5 million hectares.

• In India, wetland restoration and coastal projects benefited nearly 12 million people by strengthening food security, reducing flood risk, and boosting incomes in coastal communities.

• Community forestry projects — such as the Buffelsdraai initiative in South Africa — created over 600 local “tree‑preneurs” and hundreds of jobs benefiting previously vulnerable households.

• In Africa’s restoration efforts (e.g. the Great Green Wall), 350,000+ green jobs were created by 2018, with projected job creation reaching 10 million by 2030.

A local African woman working in a tree nursery. AI generated picture.

These results show that nature‑based carbon projects go beyond environmental outcomes — they uplift communities, support training and job creation, improve food and income security, and build long-term resilience. These benefits make nature-based carbon credits more desirable and valuable. Higher-quality nature-based carbon credits are selling for significantly more — on average 20% more per rating level, and up to 400% more in top-rated forest projects — according to new research by BeZero Carbon.

Discover more: Why carbon credit prices will rise

The rising demand for carbon credits from financial institutions

Financial institutions are increasingly turning to carbon credits — especially nature-based ones — as part of a broader shift toward long-term resilience and alternative asset diversification. With growing pressure to meet new regulatory standards and improve portfolio stability, nature-based credits are gaining traction among banks, asset managers, and private funds.

Local farmers working on a cocoa plantation. Bulindi Agroforestry and Chimpanzee Conservation Project, DGB. Source: DGB  

In 2023 alone, approximately 123 million tonnes of nature-based carbon credits were issued, out of $723 million in offsets traded on the voluntary carbon market according to World Resources Institute. While overall demand in voluntary markets has faced scrutiny, buyers continue to prioritize credits backed by rigorous standards — driving premium pricing.

Flagship projects like Mombak — a reforestation initiative in the Brazilian Amazon — are selling credits at over $50 per ton, far above the typical market range of $3–$15. These high-integrity, verifiable projects are appealing to institutions not only for their environmental outcomes but also for their socioeconomic co-benefits, strong governance, and return potential.

Asset managers such as BNP Paribas already incorporate carbon credits into €2 billion in managed assets, using them as complementary tools within broader decarbonization strategies — not just as offsets, but as measurable value drivers.

This trend reflects a broader transformation in finance — one that favors impact-aligned, transparent, and scalable assets. As institutional adoption grows, demand for verified carbon credits is expected to rise sharply, creating momentum that individual investors can also tap into.

Discover more: What companies buy carbon credits?

VanderStyn is your way into carbon credits

Historically, investing in carbon credits was limited to multinational corporations and governments. VanderStyn recognized this gap — and opened the door.

Through the Green Carbon Fund, accredited investors now gain exclusive access to early-stage, high-value carbon credit projects — all verified, all institutional-grade.

Key investment highlights:

• Fixed 8% annual cash flow, paid quarterly

• Estimated double-digit total returns over the fund’s lifespan

• Globally diversified portfolio with multiple carbon credit projects 

• Exposure to a $50 billion carbon credit market

• 6–8 year investment horizon

• $100K minimum investment

These returns are made possible through forward contracts and diversified nature-based projects, giving you both profit and purpose in one portfolio.

Ready to invest in the next hot commodity?

Join a select group of accredited investors capitalizing on the next hot commodity — carbon credits. With rising commodity prices today, there’s never been a better time to move beyond gold, oil, or stocks.

Book a free consultation with our Fund Manager to explore your options and start your journey into one of the most traded commodities of the future.