The most commonly traded energy commodities include crude oil, natural gas, coal, and electricity. Each of these plays a crucial role in the global energy market.

Crude Oil: As the most traded energy commodity, crude oil is the backbone of the global energy supply. It is refined into various products like gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, essential for transportation and industry. Major benchmarks like Brent and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) are used to price crude oil globally.

Natural Gas: Natural gas is another critical energy commodity, used for heating, electricity generation, and as an industrial feedstock. Its trading has grown significantly with the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which allows for easier transportation across the world.

Coal: Despite environmental concerns, coal remains a widely traded commodity due to its abundant supply and cost-effectiveness for electricity generation, especially in developing countries. Its use is declining in some regions due to a shift towards cleaner energy sources.

Electricity: Unlike other energy commodities, electricity cannot be stored easily, making its trading unique. Power trading involves buying and selling electricity on short-term and long-term contracts to balance supply and demand across grids.

These energy commodities are traded on major exchanges like the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), with prices influenced by factors like geopolitical events, supply and demand dynamics, and regulatory changes.