If you are active in the markets, you have probably come across commodity options. A commodity option is a contract that allows you, but does not obligate you, to purchase or sell a commodity at a specified price for a specified period of time.
Commodity options can be used for price risk management or to capitalise on market changes, without actually owning the commodity. In India, exchanges like MCX and NCDEX provide trading of options on gold and silver, crude oil, and agricultural products. Understanding the different types of commodities will improve your understanding of the workings of each market.
Summary
Commodity options are financial derivatives giving buyers the right—but not the obligation—to buy or sell a commodity futures contract at a set price on expiry. Introduced in India in 2017, they include metals, energy, and agricultural goods. Buyers risk only the premium while sellers face higher risk. These options help hedge against price changes and can be traded by opening a futures & options account with a broker.
What are Commodity Options?
Commodity options refer to the buying and selling of options contracts on popular commodities like gold, crude oil, natural gas, wheat, etc. As discussed above, in India, commodity options started in 2017 after the government permitted it.
There are two types of commodity options in the international market; American style and British style. In India, we follow only British-style commodity options trading. In British style, the buying or selling of the commodity options contract can only be done on the expiration date which is the last Thursday of every month. In the American style, buying and selling can be done on or before the expiration date.
In commodity options trading, a trader can buy or sell the option contract. As a buyer, the risk is limited (up to the premium paid) while profit potential is unlimited if the price goes up. For a seller, the risk is unlimited if the price falls while the profit is limited to the premium. The buyer may or may not choose to exercise the contract on the expiration date, depending on the price movements. However, a seller is obliged to execute the trade if the buyer chooses to do so.
Types Of Commodities
Before engaging in trading, it is a good idea to become familiar with the primary types of commodities available. Each of these types responds to various global and local changes in factors like demand, production, and weather events. Here are the primary classifications you will want to understand.
Agricultural Commodity: The agricultural group of commodities includes grains, such as wheat, rice, sugar, and cotton. Their price can be very susceptible to changes in weather, harvesting cycles, and changes in demand from buyers or consumers. If you are trading with these markets, you will be involved in marketing systems that ultimately depend on rain and/or seasons.
Metals: The second group includes metals, such as gold, silver, copper, and aluminium. Metals are critical commercial products used in investment and industrial applications. Prices frequently react to global demands and economic conditions. You can hedge against inflation or measure industrial growth from metal options.
Energy Commodities: The energy commodities group includes crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Prices for energy commodities can change quickly due to political events, supply disruptions, and/or global supply limitations. Options on energy commodities can hedge against the risk of fluctuating prices.
Livestock & Meat: The livestock and/or meat category includes cattle, poultry, pork, etc. Prices in the livestock and meat category are subject to feed costs: export demand, and health issues. Trading in livestock can hedge against the risk from changing consumption trends and/or production problems.
Knowing these categories helps you choose the right commodities based on your goals and comfort with risk.
What is Options Trading in the Commodity Market?
In India, options trading in commodity futures is only permitted and not in commodity spot markets. So, it can be said that commodity options trading works a bit differently than stock options trading. You must also note that the spot market and cash market are regulated by the state government, while SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) oversees commodity derivatives markets in India.
How to Start Options Trading?
Are you willing to start your trading journey in commodity options trading? Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Step 1: Choose an online broker of your preference and create an account. Now log in to start the trading
- Step 2: Check for F&O (Futures & Options) trading in your account. Make sure it is active
- Step 3: Now, based on your research, you need to choose the commodity options that you'd like to trade-in
- Step 4: In the beginning, try to go slow and start with liquid indexes so it can be easier to predict and potential losses can be minimised
- Step 5: You need to figure out the potential direction of price movement and purchase a commodity options contract accordingly (Buy or Sell)
- Step 6: Gradually, with consistent effort, you may get a better hold of the market and thus profit from your trade.
Benefits of Commodity Options Trading
Commodity options trading offers various advantages to the trader. In comparison to futures trading also, there can be certain benefits. Here is how you can benefit from commodity options trading:
No Mark-to-Market Margin
There is no mark-to-market margin requirement in options trading, unlike futures, where you need to add more funds if the balance goes below the margin requirement. So, the only requirement is to pay the premium of the contract.
Low Risks for Short Positions
Traders with short positions are low on risk as they may or may not choose to sell the contract if the price does not move in their favour.
Cost-effective Option
Options trading in commodities is actually cost-effective futures trading since the maximum loss for buyers is the premium paid. This loss occurs if the buyer chooses not to sell their contract.
Hedging Against Potential Losses
Options give you the opportunity to hedge against the potential losses that may occur due to price fluctuations of a commodity in the near future.