A hundredweight, abbreviated as CWT, is a standard unit of weight or mass used in certain commodities markets. It is equal to either 100 pounds or 112 pounds in North America and the United Kingdom respectively, with the former referred to as a "short" hundredweight and the latter as a "long" hundredweight. The hundredweight was instituted as a standard unit of measurement to simplify the trading process of commodities between different countries. While its usage has waned as the metric system is implemented and more widely utilized, produce such as steel, oil, seeds, and grains can still be found using the hundredweight as its unit of measurement.

The hundredweight, along with other related units of measurement, are necessary to evaluate proportions, especially when trading of goods is occurring between different countries. The use of such measurements allows the calculation of the cost of goods being transported or purchased, allowing for a more transparent process for both the buyer and the seller. The cost of goods can easily be calculated by multiplying the commodity's price per hundredweight with the total hundredweight needed.

For instance, let’s say a seller wishes to sell 1000lbs of oranges to a buyer, with 100lbs priced at $10 USD. To calculate the cost of the oranges, the buyer would simply multiply 100 by 10 dollars, which would equal $1000 USD for the entire shipment. In this way, the hundredweight allows for greater clarity and precision when purchasing certain commodities.

In conclusion, the hundredweight (abbreviated as CWT), is a standard unit of weight or mass used in certain commodities markets, with the value being either 100 pounds or 112 pounds depending on the region. This allows buyers and sellers to easily discern the cost of a particular commodity when transporting across countries, as they can calculate the purchase cost simply by multiplying the price per hundredweight with the total hundredweight needed. Its usage has thus been essential in facilitating the trading process between different countries.