Recently, I was researching how to invest in oil in Mexico and I was surprised to discover that there are many more options than I thought. It’s not just buying shares of oil companies, but you can also trade CFDs, futures, ETFs... it really depends on what type of trader you are.

The first thing I noticed is that oil has two main benchmarks: Brent (which moves two-thirds of the global market and is more sensitive to geopolitical crises) and WTI (American crude, which reacts strongly to macroeconomic data from the United States). For someone just starting out, the correlation between the two is so high (more than 90%) that it almost doesn’t matter which one you start with.

Now, regarding platforms to do this from Mexico, there are actually several options. Mitrade caught my attention because it’s quite accessible: tight spreads, no fixed commissions, and you can start with little capital. Then there’s eToro if you want to see what other traders are doing and copy their moves. For those with more experience, Interactive Brokers offers access to more sophisticated futures and options, although it requires more technical knowledge.

For someone who wants to invest in oil in Mexico without making things too complicated, CFDs or ETFs are probably the most straightforward path. Futures are a different level—you need to know what you’re doing. And if your idea is long-term, there’s always the classic option of shares in large oil companies.

What I’ve realized is that oil remains relevant: it’s a hedge against inflation, it’s a geopolitically important asset, and the volatility it generates opens opportunities for those who know how to take advantage of it. But obviously, like everything in trading, you need to understand what you’re doing.