# Understanding Derived Demand: Calculation, Examples, and Investment Strategies

## What Is Derived Demand?

Derived demand, in economics, is the demand for a good or service that results from the demand for a different, or related, good or service. It is a demand for some physical or intangible thing where a [market](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/market.asp) exists for both related goods and services in question. Derived demand can have a significant impact on the derived product's [market price](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/market-price.asp).

### Key Takeaways

*   Derived demand occurs when the demand for one product or service creates a demand for an associated, related product or service. This interplay is crucial for understanding market dynamics and planning investment strategies.  
    
*   Factors such as labor, raw materials, and processed materials play a central role in derived demand, as the need for these components rises and falls in tandem with the final product's demand.  
    
*   The pick-and-shovel investment strategy highlights a practical application of derived demand. This approach focuses on investing in the necessary tools and technology that manufacture a sought-after product, thus minimizing direct market risks.  
    
*   Changes in the demand for a particular product can significantly impact the demand for related goods or services, making derived demand a strategic tool for forecasting potential market opportunities and risks.

## How Derived Demand Influences Economic Markets

Derived demand focuses on the need for a product or service because it helps make another product or service. Derived demand arises from what's needed to make a product, like [capital](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/capital.asp), land, labor, and [raw materials](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/rawmaterials.asp). In these instances, the demand for raw materials is directly tied to the demand for products that require the raw material for their production.

[Investing](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/investmentstrategy.asp) based on derived demand can be smart if it predicts market potential for related products. In addition, if activity in one [sector](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sector.asp) increases, then any sector responsible for the first sector’s success may also see gains.

> **Important**
>
> The principles of derived demand work in both directions. If the demand for a product decreases, then the demand for the goods required to produce that product will also decrease.

## Real-World Examples of Derived Demand

### Pick-and-Shovel Strategy

The [pick-and-shovel investment strategy](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/pick-and-shovel-play.asp) employs the principles of derived demand because it invests in the underlying technology needed to produce a good or service instead of investing in the final product, itself. It is a way to invest in a specific industry without being exposed to the [market risks](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/marketrisk.asp) of the end product.

This strategy takes its name from the tools used in the 1840s and '50s California Gold Rush. Prospectors needed to buy picks and shovels to mine for gold. So, though there was no guarantee that a prospector would find gold, the companies that sold picks and shovels were earning revenue, and thus were considered good investments during that era. The demand for picks and shovels was derived largely from the demand for gold.

### The Computer Marketplace

As more businesses and people rely on computers, the demand for them increases. Consequently, we may see derived demand in the related products of computer peripherals such as computer mice, monitors, external drives, and so on. We also could see derived demand for the internal components of computers, like motherboards and video cards, and the materials required to produce them.

> **Fast Fact**
>
> Pick-and-shovel investing carries risks since losses can happen even if derived product demand is high.

## Key Factors Impacting Derived Demand

Certain production materials may not experience large-scale changes based on increases or decreases in demand for a specific product based on how widely the production materials are used. For example, cotton is widely used to manufacture fabric. But if a particular print or color of cotton fabric is popular during a specific season, and its popularity diminishes over the course of a few seasons, then this may not have a large impact on the demand for cotton in general.

## How Is Derived Demand Determined?

Derived demand occurs when the demand for a good or service produces a corresponding demand for a related good or service. For example, when demand for a good or service increases, demand for the related good or service increases, and vice versa.

## Why Is Derived Demand Significant?

Demand for a good or service affects demand for a related good or service and the raw materials, labor, technology, and processed materials used to produce the related product or service. In addition, with an increased demand for raw materials, international trade may be created or boosted, and indirectly, as production increases, demand for energy increases. Companies can anticipate and plan for demand shifts when demand for a related or complimentary product or service changes.

## What Is Derived vs. Direct Demand?

Direct demand is the demand for a final product or service and is not affected by the demand for other products or services; on the other hand, derived demand is the demand for a product or service based on the demand for another product or service.

## What Are the Main Components of Derived Demand?

Derived demand consists of three main components: labor, raw materials, and processed materials. Labor is the work employed to produce final goods and services. Raw materials are the resources used to manufacture a product or service, and processed materials are the products created from raw materials and labor. When derived demand increases or decreases, the demand for these components follow.

## The Importance of Understanding Derived Demand

Derived demand occurs when demand for a good or service affects demand for a related good or service. Comprised of raw materials, processed goods, and labor, derived demand can influence the demand for its associated components, the technology needed for production, and the derived product's market price. However, demand shifts may not significantly affect the demand for raw and processed materials that produce many other products. For investors, the demand for a final product or service helps predict demand for related goods or services, making for a sound investment strategy.