Commodity trading: the shadowy industry destroying the planet Commodity traders wreak havoc on global markets and profit from ecological and social devastation. Can they be stopped? (AFP/Romeo Gacad) 29 July 2021 Share this page Commodity traders wreak havoc on global markets and profit from ecological and social devastation. Can they be stopped? (AFP/Romeo Gacad) Commodity trading firms are among the most important corporations in global capitalism, yet most people have never heard of them. As intermediaries between suppliers and buyers of primary and secondary commodities, these shadowy entities are key players in vital international markets, from aluminium and crude oil to soybean meal and zinc. They use their transportation, processing and storage capabilities to capitalise on disruptions in global supply chains, and they trade on derivatives markets to both hedge against, and speculate on, price fluctuations.