råvare

Råvare is the Norwegian term for a raw material, a basic input used in the production of goods and services. It refers to natural resources or agricultural products that are harvested, mined, or extracted before being transformed through processing and manufacturing. In Norwegian, the singular form is råvare and the plural råvarer; the English equivalent is raw material or raw materials.

Examples of råvarer include timber, iron ore, crude oil, natural gas, fish, wheat, and other agricultural crops. Some råvarer are homogeneous—such as a standard grade of crude oil—while others vary by quality, grade, or origin. The category also encompasses renewable resources and primary energy sources, depending on the industrial context.

Råvarer are traded on commodity markets. Prices are influenced by supply and demand, weather, geopolitics, currency movements, and storage costs. Many råvarer are interchangeable to some degree, while others require standard specifications or contractual terms. Markets often distinguish between physical delivery and financial contracts, with futures and options used for hedging price risk.

Value chain and sustainability form important aspects of råvarer. The typical sequence is extraction or harvest, processing into refined or intermediate products, and final manufacturing. Environmental and social considerations, including responsible sourcing and certifications, increasingly shape sourcing decisions and pricing.

Economic role and procurement: råvare costs affect production expenses, inflation, and trade balances. Businesses manage risk and ensure continuity by diversifying suppliers, entering long-term supply agreements, and using hedging instruments. The concept remains central to industries such as agriculture, mining, energy, and forestry.