Soft commodities, which refer to agricultural goods such as coffee, sugar, cocoa, grains, livestock, and other products, are the essentials of everyday life. Regardless of current trends, primary and secondary agricultural goods (e.g., fiberboard from rice straw; industrial chemicals and bio-fuel from sugarcane; and milk and protein from soybean) will always be in demand.

Oilseeds

Oilseeds are crops grown for the extraction of oil from their seeds and have a wide range of uses including as a cooking oil, food ingredient, and biofuel, making them a significant part of the global agricultural industry.

Coffee

Coffee beans are the seeds of the Coffea plant, which are roasted to produce the popular beverage known for its rich flavor and energizing properties.

raw cane sugar, Demerara

Sugar

Sugar is a versatile commodity derived from a variety of sources. As a sweetener, it plays a key role in the global food industry, satisfying a wide range of consumer preferences and enhancing the palatability of many products.

Cotton

Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a protective casing around the seeds of the cotton plant, and is widely used for fabric production due to its breathability and versatility.

Soybean

Soybeans are a type of oilseed crop grown for their oil-rich seeds, which are used in various food and industrial products, and also as a source of protein for livestock feed.

Dairy

Dairy refers to products derived from the milk of mammals, such as cows, goats, and sheep, and includes items like milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter, which are commonly consumed for their nutritional benefits and rich flavor.

Livestock

Livestock refers to domesticated animals kept for their products such as meat, dairy, leather, and wool, and include species such as cattle, pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats.

Orange Juice

Orange juice is a major player in the global fruit juice market, widely consumed for its sweet and tangy flavor and high vitamin C content, and also contributing to the economies of countries that grow oranges for juice production.

Wood

Wood, also known as timber, is a valuable natural resource that plays a significant role in the global economy, as it is used in construction, furniture making, paper production, and other industries, and is also an important source of income for many forestry-based communities.

Shipping

The shipping industry plays a crucial role in the global economy by facilitating international trade and transportation of goods across the world, connecting markets, and driving economic growth and development.

Over time, we’ve seen the prices of these agricultural products rise and become volatile; thus, it’s vital for growers and producers to have a tried and tested system in place that will reliably help them better understand and manage the entirety of their trading and risk management operations. By doing so, they’re effectively maximizing their business profits and minimizing their losses.

Each agricultural commodity is unique. So, you can’t simply choose a CTRM (Commodity Trading and Risk Management) software for agriculture or soft commodities and assume it will work out of the box for your company. Prices for different kinds of commodities are measured in varying units – tons, bales, bushels, etc. What’s more, each commodity type has different rules for trading and physical characteristics. For example, cocoa and coffee both have unique characteristics that your CTRM should be able to manage.

Let’s look at the example of coffee: people price coffee based on various factors such as origin, certifications, grades, and flavor patterns. Sometimes, merchandisers and traders use different units of measurement than terminal markets. Finally, trading practices may differ based on the type of trade and geographical region.

Aside from coffee trading, cocoa trading is another complex example. People trade cocoa on many exchanges in different currencies. What’s more, attributes like bean size, infestation, and certification affect pricing.

It’s clear that you’ll want a CTRM system that can price your commodities correctly and take into account various commodity characteristics.

Regardless of whether you handle grains and oilseeds (corn, wheat, soybeans, palm oil); livestock (feeder cattle, lean hogs, live cattle); dairy products (milk, cheese, butter, dry whey); or other agricultural goods, merchandisers, farmers, grain elevators, producers, crushers, breeders, and traders need to have a comprehensive system in place that handles everything from growing to processing to the final product.

The Solution

ComFin Software’s “Comcore” is your all-in-one CTRM solution for trading, storing, and transporting all your agricultural goods. It’s a complete solution for agricultural commodities and can handle the entire lifecycle of your commodities, from the source all the way to the customers.

At ComFin, we provide you with high-quality, reliable CTRM software solutions for capturing all trade-related data, managing and mitigating your financial risks, tracking, and reporting to guarantee the long-term success of your organization.

ComFin is regarded as the world’s leading commodity trading and risk management company. With over two decades of experience and a strong capability in developing tailor-made solutions that solve your specific problems, we can help you reduce your financial risk while maximizing profits. Our team is fully prepared to help you overcome your challenges, streamline your business processes, and improve your trading activities – all specific to the context of the agricultural industry.

Agriculture/Soft Commodities

Oil & Gas & Coal

Mining & Metallurgy