Emerging commodities: Why natural gas, industrial metals & macro trends matter

Emerging commodities are earning a spot in modern portfolios. It's not just about gold or oil anymore. Natural gas, industrial metals like copper and lithium, and global macroeconomic trends are offering new opportunities for investors seeking diversification, inflation protection, and exposure to global megatrends.

Natural gas: A smart bet in the energy transition 

Natural gas plays a crucial role as a cleaner transition fuel. While not renewable, it produces far fewer emissions than coal or oil, keeping demand healthy across Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

📈 Key stat: Natural gas prices can double within months during harsh winters or geopolitical crises.

💡 Real-world moment: In 2022, gas prices in Europe surged due to the Ukraine war, rewarding investors already in this commodity.

✅ Fun fact: You can track natural gas trends through tools like nomo AI Index or set price alerts to time your strategy perfectly.

Industrial metals: Copper, lithium & the green transformation 

The global shift to renewables has sparked huge demand for industrial metals:

👉 Copper – essential for electric grids.

👉 Lithium – the core of EV batteries.

👉 Nickel & Manganese – vital for energy storage.

🌍 Governments worldwide are pouring trillions into EVs, clean energy, and power infrastructure—creating massive demand.

💡 Quick stat: Lithium prices soared over 400% between 2020 and 2022 during the EV boom, an opportunity savvy traders capitalized on.

Macro forces shaping commodity prices 

Commodities don't move alone. Central bank policies, interest rates, and the dollar heavily influence pricing:

📈 Higher interest rates can drag down commodity prices by increasing borrowing costs.

💲 A strong US dollar makes commodities more expensive for non-dollar buyers.

🌐 Geopolitical events often push up real assets, oil, gas, and metals.

💡 Example: A weakening dollar often boosts copper and gold prices in emerging markets.

🎯 In nomo, you can track these macro trends and let the AI Assistant recommend assets that match your risk profile in real time.

China & Latin America: A strategic commodity duo

China remains the world’s top consumer of key industrial metals, its economic health impacts global prices directly.

🌏 China accounts for over 35% of global copper and lithium demand.

🌎 Meanwhile, Latin America is a key exporter: Chile & Peru (copper), Argentina (lithium), Mexico (natural gas & silver).

📈 This gives regional traders a unique edge: access to local data, political context, and early signals.

Why you should add emerging commodities to your portfolio

These assets offer more than growth:

🔥 Diversification – they don’t mirror stocks or bonds.

🔥 Inflation protection – they often rise with general price increases.

🔥 Flexible opportunities – useful for both short-term trades and long-term holds.

📈 Research shows portfolios holding 5–15% in commodities achieve better risk-adjusted returns.

Tangible assets for a digital world

In an increasingly automated and digital investment landscape, emerging commodities bring balance, resilience, and tangible value. Natural gas, lithium, copper, and others will remain key players in the years ahead.

📌 Smartly adding these commodities could transform a passive portfolio into a future-ready one.

🧠 Want to explore more?

🔎 Dive deeper into real investment opportunities and intelligent tools on nomo Academy.

🧐 Ready to elevate your commodity strategy? Try the AI Assistant and the new nomo AI Index today and invest smarter.