Rare earth ETFs give investors exposure to one of the most geopolitically sensitive commodity markets in the world without requiring individual stock selection. VanEck’s REMX, with approximately $3 billion in assets under management as of March 2026, remains the dominant pure-play vehicle — but the landscape has expanded significantly as Western supply chain concerns have accelerated capital flows into the sector. This guide ranks the top 10 rare earth ETFs and critical minerals investment vehicles available to retail and institutional investors in 2026, covering everything from U.S.-listed pure-play funds to Australian and European alternatives.
How We Ranked the Top 10 Rare Earth ETFs
Funds are ranked primarily by AUM, used as a proxy for liquidity and institutional credibility. Where AUM is comparable, rare earth and critical minerals exposure specificity takes precedence — a fund with 80% REE-related holdings ranks above a broad mining fund with 5% REE exposure. Accessibility to both retail and institutional investors, and availability across major markets, are secondary ranking factors.
AUM and expense ratio figures are approximate and sourced from fund provider data and financial databases as of Q1 2026. Rankings may shift as the sector attracts further capital inflows.
1. VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) — United States
REMX is the largest and most liquid pure-play rare earth ETF globally. As covered in our rare earth stocks analysis, REMX tracks the MVIS Global Rare Earth/Strategic Metals Index, which covers companies involved in producing, refining, and recycling rare earth and strategic metals. AUM stood at approximately $3.0 billion as of mid-March 2026 — up from under $1 billion twelve months earlier — driven by surging investor interest in Western supply chain diversification.
Expense ratio: 0.58%. Key holdings include Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC), MP Materials (NYSE: MP), and a range of Chinese processors. The fund’s dominance in the REE investor universe gives it unmatched liquidity — average daily volume exceeded 1.5 million shares in early 2026. The principal limitation is China exposure: Chinese rare earth companies account for a meaningful proportion of index weight, which introduces geopolitical concentration risk that contradicts the Western supply chain thesis for some investors.
2. Sprott Critical Materials ETF (SETM) — United States
SETM (Nasdaq: SETM) is the fastest-growing critical minerals ETF in the U.S. market, launched in February 2023 and reaching over $550 million in AUM by early March 2026. The fund tracks the Nasdaq Sprott Critical Materials Index, covering companies deriving at least 50% of revenue from mining, exploration, production, or refining of nine essential metals: uranium, lithium, copper, nickel, silver, manganese, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements.
Expense ratio: 0.65%. REE-relevant holdings include MP Materials and Lynas Rare Earths alongside uranium and lithium miners. SETM’s pure-play mandate — requiring significant revenue concentration in critical materials — gives it cleaner sector exposure than broader mining ETFs. The limitation is that REE is one of nine metals in the index, so the fund’s performance is driven as much by uranium and copper dynamics as by rare earth prices directly.
3. Global X Lithium and Battery Tech ETF (LIT) — United States
LIT (NYSE Arca: LIT) is the largest lithium-focused ETF globally, with approximately $1.66 billion in AUM as of March 2026. It tracks the Solactive Global Lithium Index, investing in companies across the lithium supply chain — miners, chemical processors, and battery manufacturers. While not a pure rare earth ETF, LIT holds significant exposure to REE-adjacent critical minerals companies and sits at the intersection of the same structural demand drivers: EV growth, energy storage, and clean energy policy.
Expense ratio: 0.75%. Top holdings include Rio Tinto (NYSE: RIO), Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), and Samsung SDI. Rare earth exposure is indirect — the fund targets lithium rather than neodymium or dysprosium — but investors tracking the broader battery materials supply chain will find meaningful overlap. The higher expense ratio and the fund’s heavy concentration in lithium chemical producers rather than rare earth miners is the key distinction from REMX.
4. iShares MSCI Global Metals and Mining Producers ETF (PICK) — United States
PICK (NYSE Arca: PICK), issued by BlackRock, held approximately $2.1 billion in AUM as of mid-March 2026. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of global metals and mining producers, excluding gold and silver, across approximately 230 holdings. Top positions include BHP Group (NYSE: BHP) at approximately 12%, Rio Tinto at 6.7%, Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE: FCX) at 4.9%, and Glencore at 4%.
Expense ratio: 0.39% — the lowest of any fund in this ranking, and a meaningful cost advantage for long-duration positions. Rare earth exposure is diluted: PICK’s mandate covers all non-precious metals mining, so rare earths represent a small fraction of the overall portfolio. Lynas Rare Earths and MP Materials are present but at sub-2% weightings. PICK suits investors wanting broad metals and mining exposure with incidental REE involvement rather than targeted rare earth positioning.
5. HANetf Future of Defence UCITS ETF (NATO/ASWC) — Europe
The HANetf Future of Defence UCITS ETF (LSE ticker: NATO; Xetra: ASWC) is a London-listed UCITS fund with approximately €2.8 billion (around $3.0 billion) in AUM as of March 2026 — one of the fastest-growing defence ETFs in Europe since its July 2023 launch. The fund tracks the EQM Future of Defence Index, covering companies engaged in military and defence operations across NATO and NATO-aligned countries.
Expense ratio: 0.49%. The fund does not hold rare earth miners directly, but its defence thesis is structurally linked to the REE supply chain: NdFeB permanent magnets are a critical input across precision-guided munitions, radar systems, and military vehicle motors. Top holdings include Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC), Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), BAE Systems (LSE: BA.), and Safran. For European investors, NATO offers an indirect REE demand-side play alongside direct defence sector exposure. It is denominated in USD and listed in London, making it accessible to UK and European investors via standard brokerage accounts.
6. BetaShares Energy Transition Metals ETF (XMET) — Australia
XMET (ASX: XMET), managed by BetaShares and launched in October 2022, is the primary ASX-listed vehicle for critical minerals exposure, with approximately AUD 120 million ($75 million) in AUM as of mid-March 2026. The fund tracks the Nasdaq Sprott Energy Transition Materials Select Index, covering 30 global producers of copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese, silver, and rare earth elements. Key holdings include MP Materials and Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS).
Expense ratio: 0.69%. XMET is the most relevant vehicle for Australian investors seeking critical minerals exposure without directly holding individual stocks. Rare earth exposure is included within the index mandate but sits alongside copper and lithium as primary drivers. Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) is not currently a top-ten holding, though this may change as the Nasdaq Sprott index rebalances. The fund’s relatively small AUM — modest by global standards — means bid-ask spreads may be wider than U.S.-listed alternatives for institutional-scale trades.
7. Amplify Lithium and Battery Technology ETF (BATT) — United States
BATT (NYSE: BATT), issued by Amplify ETFs, had approximately $115 million in AUM as of February 2026. The fund tracks a market-cap-weighted index of global advanced battery material companies, covering miners and producers of lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite. It provides a narrower, more mining-oriented take on the battery materials theme compared to the broader LIT.
Expense ratio: 0.59%. Rare earth exposure is limited — BATT’s index focuses on battery metals rather than NdFeB magnet materials. However, the fund holds several companies with REE-adjacent operations, and the battery supply chain overlap with rare earths demand makes it relevant for investors tracking the wider critical minerals complex. Smaller AUM and lower daily liquidity relative to REMX and LIT means this is more appropriate as a satellite position than a core allocation.
8. VanEck MVR — ASX (ASX: MVR)
The VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR) provides market-cap-weighted exposure to Australian resources companies, tracking the MVIS Australia Equal Weight Resources Index. Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) is among the top holdings at approximately 5.8%, alongside BHP (ASX: BHP) and Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO). The fund is listed on the ASX and primarily targets Australian retail investors seeking diversified domestic resources exposure with embedded rare earth representation.
Lynas’s weighting means MVR is meaningful for investors wanting ASX-listed REE exposure within a broader Australian resources basket rather than a global or pure-play vehicle. Expense ratio and exact AUM figures should be verified at the fund provider’s current documentation, as these are subject to quarterly revision. The limitation is sector diversification: iron ore, coal, and base metals dominate the portfolio, and REE exposure is secondary.
9. SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources Fund (OZR) — Australia
The SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources Fund (ASX: OZR) is one of the oldest and largest Australian resources ETFs, tracking the S&P/ASX 200 Resources Index across 49 holdings. Lynas Rare Earths features at approximately 2.8% weight, with Iluka Resources at approximately 0.55%. Like MVR, this is a broad Australian resources fund with incidental rare earth exposure rather than a targeted REE vehicle.
OZR’s primary attraction for REE-focused investors is Lynas’s inclusion in a liquid, established ASX-listed wrapper that is accessible through all major Australian brokers and SMSF platforms. Investors wanting meaningful REE weight should note that OZR’s portfolio is dominated by BHP, Rio Tinto, and Fortescue — rare earth names are present but marginal. Expense ratio and current AUM should be verified against the SPDR Australia product pages before investing.
10. iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (INRG) — Europe
The iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (LSE: INRG), with approximately $2 billion in AUM as of early 2026, tracks the S&P Global Clean Energy Index across wind, solar, and clean energy utility names. Direct rare earth mining exposure is minimal — the fund holds clean energy generators and developers rather than materials producers. However, every wind turbine manufacturer and EV platform company in the portfolio represents end-use demand for NdFeB magnets, dysprosium, and terbium.
Expense ratio: 0.65%. INRG belongs on this list as a demand-side proxy: for investors who want exposure to the structural forces driving rare earth consumption without holding miners directly, clean energy ETFs like INRG represent an indirect but complementary position. It is widely held by UK and European retail investors through ISA and SIPP accounts, and is available via most major platforms. The limitation is obvious — it offers no direct rare earth mining exposure and its performance is driven by energy policy and utility valuations rather than REE prices.
Top 10 Rare Earth ETFs — Summary Comparison (Q1 2026)
| ETF Name | Ticker | Exchange | AUM (approx) | Expense Ratio | REE Exposure Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF | REMX | NYSE Arca | ~$3.0B | 0.58% | High — pure-play REE/strategic metals |
| Sprott Critical Materials ETF | SETM | Nasdaq | ~$550M | 0.65% | High — pure-play critical minerals incl. REE |
| Global X Lithium and Battery Tech ETF | LIT | NYSE Arca | ~$1.66B | 0.75% | Low-Moderate — lithium-focused, REE-adjacent |
| iShares MSCI Global Metals and Mining ETF | PICK | NYSE Arca | ~$2.1B | 0.39% | Low — broad metals, diluted REE weight |
| HANetf Future of Defence UCITS ETF | NATO / ASWC | LSE / Xetra | ~€2.8B | 0.49% | Indirect — defence demand-side REE proxy |
| BetaShares Energy Transition Metals ETF | XMET | ASX | ~AUD 120M | 0.69% | Moderate — REE within critical minerals basket |
| Amplify Lithium and Battery Technology ETF | BATT | NYSE | ~$115M | 0.59% | Low — battery metals, limited REE |
| VanEck Australian Resources ETF | MVR | ASX | Verify current | Verify current | Low-Moderate — Lynas ~5.8% weight |
| SPDR S&P/ASX 200 Resources Fund | OZR | ASX | Verify current | Verify current | Low — Lynas ~2.8% weight |
| iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF | INRG | LSE | ~$2.0B | 0.65% | Indirect — clean energy demand-side proxy |
Choosing the Right Rare Earth ETF for Your Portfolio
The core trade-off in rare earth ETFs is exposure specificity versus liquidity. REMX offers the most direct route to rare earth and strategic metals miners but carries meaningful China exposure within its index — approximately 25-35% of holdings are Chinese processors or miners, depending on index rebalancing. For investors whose thesis is specifically about Western supply chain development, this creates internal contradiction. SETM’s pure-play mandate addresses this partly, but at a higher expense ratio and lower liquidity.
For non-U.S. investors, the currency question matters. REMX is USD-denominated and listed on NYSE Arca — British, European, and Australian investors face FX conversion costs and potentially limited access through local brokers. ASWC (the London listing of the HANetf Future of Defence ETF) and INRG are UCITS-compliant and ISA/SIPP-eligible for UK investors. Australian investors are best served by XMET for targeted critical minerals exposure or MVR for a Lynas position within a broader resources basket.
Investors should note that all funds in this ranking carry concentration risk to a single structural theme — the energy transition and Western supply chain diversification. A broad commodity price downturn, a rapid resolution of U.S.-China trade tensions, or a technological shift away from NdFeB magnets could negatively affect the entire sector simultaneously. Position sizing accordingly.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. ETF data is approximate and subject to change. AUM figures are sourced from fund provider data and financial databases as at Q1 2026. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.
What is the best rare earth ETF?
VanEck’s REMX (NYSE Arca: REMX) is the largest and most liquid pure-play rare earth ETF, with approximately $3 billion in AUM as of March 2026. It offers direct exposure to rare earth and strategic metals miners globally. Investors specifically targeting Western supply chain development may prefer Sprott’s SETM (Nasdaq: SETM), which has a pure-play critical materials mandate and excludes Chinese state-owned enterprises from its index.
Does REMX give pure rare earth exposure?
REMX provides high but not exclusively rare earth exposure. The fund tracks the MVIS Global Rare Earth/Strategic Metals Index, which includes companies across rare earth mining, refining, and recycling — but also covers strategic metals more broadly, including titanium, molybdenum, and tungsten producers. Chinese rare earth processors account for a significant index weighting, which introduces China-specific risk.
Are there any UK or Europe-listed rare earth ETFs?
No London or European-listed ETF provides pure-play rare earth exposure as of March 2026. The closest options for UK and European investors are the iShares Global Clean Energy UCITS ETF (INRG, LSE) for demand-side exposure, and the HANetf Future of Defence UCITS ETF (NATO, LSE) as a defence-linked REE demand proxy. US-listed REMX and SETM are accessible to UK investors through most major platforms but are not UCITS-compliant and are not eligible for stocks-and-shares ISAs.
What rare earth companies are in most ETFs?
Lynas Rare Earths (ASX: LYC) and MP Materials (NYSE: MP) are the two most widely held Western rare earth companies across REE-focused ETFs. Lynas appears in REMX, XMET, MVR, and OZR; MP Materials appears in REMX and XMET. Chinese producers including China Northern Rare Earth and Shenghe Resources appear in REMX but typically not in Western pure-play funds such as SETM.
Are rare earth ETFs a good investment in 2026?
Rare earth ETFs have performed strongly over the twelve months to March 2026, driven by China export controls, Western government procurement commitments, and accelerating NdFeB magnet demand. Whether that performance continues depends on factors including the pace of Western supply chain development, Chinese export policy, and EV adoption rates. All rare earth ETFs carry significant concentration risk. This article does not constitute investment advice — consult a qualified adviser before investing.
How do rare earth ETFs differ from buying individual mining stocks?
ETFs spread risk across multiple companies and geographies, reducing exposure to any single project delay, management issue, or corporate event. The trade-off is that ETFs cannot replicate the upside of a concentrated position in a single outperformer. For investors who have high conviction in a specific company — such as MP Materials or Lynas — direct stock ownership offers more targeted exposure. ETFs are generally more appropriate for investors who want sector exposure without stock-picking risk.
