The amount of a commodity for which a predetermined price is set in a commodity futures contract.

Car can refer either to a product or to raw material. It is the commodity desired by the buyer of a commodity futures contract, purchased in this way to avoid the risk taken by remaining vulnerable to fluctuations of price on the market. This locked in price is attractive to sellers for the same reason. Examples of items that often constitute car are meats such as cattle and pork; grains such as corn, oats, soybeans, and wheat; metals such as gold, silver and platinum; and energy products such as heating oil, natural gas, and crude oil. Originating from the railroad cars used to carry such commodities, this term is now also used to refer to futures on stock indices and other intangibles.