The biggest Hormuz crisis in decades, with oil prices soaring and plummeting wildly. I see this as an opportunity that traders shouldn't miss, but they must know the right way.

In mid-February, the US and Israel attacked Iran, resulting in the Strait of Hormuz being blocked. This was a major turning point for the energy market because this strait accounts for about 31% of the world's oil exports. It caused WTI and Brent prices to jump over 20% in a single day, a situation that energy operators haven't seen since the 1970s.

Currently, WTI is around $90+ per barrel, while Brent has surpassed $100+. Meanwhile, Goldman Sachs predicts that if the Hormuz Strait remains closed for up to 5 weeks, prices could reach $100-150. Often, I see retail traders becoming more interested in the oil market, but many are still unsure how to trade oil correctly.

In the forex and commodity markets, there are several ways to access oil. Each method has its pros and cons, depending on your capital and experience.

The first method is CFDs, which are most popular among retail traders. You don't need to own the actual oil—just predict the price direction. Symbols like USOIL/WTI and UKOIL/Brent are traded 24 hours. The advantage is high leverage, allowing profits in both rising and falling markets. But the downside is, during crises like this, daily volatility of 25-30% can trigger Stop Losses before the market moves in our desired direction.

The second method is oil ETFs, which carry lower risk than CFDs and Futures because they don't use leverage. Suitable for beginners wanting long-term investment, easy to buy and sell through stock brokers. However, profit opportunities are more limited.

Futures contracts are for experienced investors, using leverage to control large quantities. When prices surge, profits can be very high, but contracts have expiration dates, requiring careful management.

Another way is investing in oil stocks. Stock prices mostly rise with oil prices and also provide dividends. Easy to trade through regular brokers, but stock prices may not move directly in line with oil prices.

Buying physical oil is not for retail investors like us, as it requires hundreds of millions of baht, complex logistics, storage, and regulatory compliance.

What I see as most important is risk management. Always set Stop Loss orders, reduce position sizes due to abnormal volatility during this period, and monitor news from the US and Iran 24/7. Even a tweet or a press statement from the White House can instantly change market direction.

Avoid using maximum leverage during crises. The risk is many times higher than usual. Choose regulated brokers from reputable authorities. The oil trading market offers both opportunities and significant risks. Those who understand the market and manage risk well can make huge profits, but reckless trading could lead to losing all your capital.