Thomas Blackwood

Thomas Blackwood cut his teeth trading agricultural futures in the Chicago pits before electronic trading transformed the industry. His thirty-year career spans roles at Cargill, Glencore, and running his own commodity trading advisory. Thomas has traded everything from corn and soybeans to copper and gold, giving him unparalleled insight into supply-demand dynamics across physical commodity markets. He holds a degree in Agricultural Economics from Iowa State and learned trading through apprenticeship rather than business school. Thomas combines fundamental analysis—crop reports, mine production, inventory levels—with technical chart reading and an understanding of speculative positioning. He was among the few who predicted the commodity supercycle of the 2000s and has navigated multiple boom-bust cycles since. His writing reflects a trader's mentality: focused on price action, risk management, and positioning rather than long-term narratives. Thomas tracks everything from USDA crop reports to Chinese steel production to South African platinum supply. He understands that commodities trade on physical fundamentals but often move on sentiment and macro factors. Writing from Chicago, his analysis serves farmers, mining investors, and macro traders alike.