Information Services and Library: Commodities: Home

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In most of our databases content relevant to researching commodities is likely to be broken out into individual commodities or sectors, rather than under the one encompassing term.

Company databases may use SIC codes or NAIC codes and in the field of finance the GICS codes may be used (or an ICB for the UK). More information.

We also have an Agribusiness guide that may be useful if you are researching crop based commodities.

Company research

Researching a company in this sector? Take a look at our guide to company research

Reports and data on commodities

Fitch Country Industry Reports	Previously Business Monitor International reports. Good for forecasts. In ProQuest database: go to advanced search search for industry and PUBID(2044556) e.g. cereal and PUBID(2044556)
IBISWorld	Provides industry reports for UK, US, China and (limited) global. Many relevant to researching of commodities including agriculture, processing, metals, transportation and warehousing etc.
Global Financial Data	Long (back to 1000 for silver and back to 1257 for gold prices) time series data for many commodities. You will need to create your own account (using your @london.edu email address) to set up a personalised environment: click "Register" below the Login button.
Technavio Insights	Covers various agricultural commodities, metals and minerals.
Mergent Online	Commodity price data going back up to 10 years. Once in the database select Economic Research>Commodities. Mergent also has analyst research reports on commodities and related companies. Access through the Investext tab.
Statista	Information on reserves, production, and consumption (supply and demand), as well as prices, M&A activity, and other economic indicators for a wide array of chemical products and resource commodities.
ProQuest Business Premium Collection	Articles on the topic. It also contains commodities reports from the EIU and Oxford Economics. To access go to Browse>Industries>Industry Reports.
Datastream	Times series data for thousands of commodities some back as far as the 1950s. Available: Eikon terminals in S0.W2.02 and A125. Faculty and PhD students please see here for access.
Bloomberg Finance Suite only	For Global commodity prices use GLCO<GO>. CCRV for a Commodity Curve. You can also access more detailed information on specific commodity sectors from the yellow commodity key (F9). There are also useful "Cheat Sheets" for a number of commodities. To locate them go to BPS> Commodities>Cheat Sheets

**Web sources**
FAO The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN monitors commodities markets, producing reports and statistics.	OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook 2024-2033 The latest version of this annual publication can be read online. There are also data visualisation tools and databases that can be queried.
UNCTAD The UN Conference on Trade and Development produces number of reports including biennial Commodities and Development Report (latest available published Oct 2023)	US Geological Survey The US Geological Survey has statistics and reports relating to mineral commodities.
World Bank Offers up price data and analysis on commodity markets.	International Grains Council Some content must be purchased, but some price data and a summary of their latest Grains Market Report can be found.
World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates Report Monthly bulletin from the US Department of Agriculture. Historical bulletins are also available.	OPEC Produces Annual Statistical Bulletin which can be downloaded from the website as well as monthly oil market reports.
Gold 2048 World Gold Council report looking at likely developments in the Gold market over the next 30 years. Must register for access to the full report.

News and keeping up to date

ScienceDirect	Covers business and sci/tech. Key titles include World Development, Energy Policy, Food Policy as well as many Economics titles.
Factiva	Our global news database with news wires, newspapers, websites and trade and professional titles. Try limiting your search by just searching Sources by relevant industries or by the Subject = Commodity Markets.
FT.com	Registration required.
Economist	Registration required.