The Economist Guide to Commodities 2nd edition

The recent price volatility of many commodities has underlined how dependent we are on them. Demand from China has pushed metal prices up; instability in the Middle East and North Africa has had its effect on oil; and food prices have been increasing in parallel with worries about whether there is enough to feed the world. Among the commodities this new edition covers in details are: ·Aluminium, lead, nickel, tin, zinc, steel, iron ore, gold, silver and platinum; ·Oil, gas and coal; ·Wheat, maize (corn), sugar, soybeans, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tea, rice, wool and rubber. This indispensible guide looks at trends in the consumption and production of, and markets for, these goods. It looks at how prices have changed over the years and how they are likely to change in future. It analyses where the power lies in terms of producers, and highlights the vulnerabilities of different societies and industries to the vagaries of commodity markets.