Copper exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are funds that hold shares of copper mining companies or copper futures contracts. These ETFs enable you to easily invest in copper, which is one of the most widely used metals on the planet. It's an excellent conductor of electricity, making it vital for electrical applications. Copper is also growing in importance as the economy turns to electricity to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the worst effects of climate change.
Copper is an essential component for wind energy and in electric vehicles. As a result, copper usage should rise in the coming years. The increased demand should boost the price of copper, as well as the share prices of mining companies focused on the metal.
There are many ways to potentially profit from the growth in the copper market. One broad approach is to invest in an ETF focused on the copper sector. Here's a closer look at the top copper ETFs.
Types of copper ETFs
There are two types of copper ETFs:
- Copper miners ETFs: These funds own shares of companies that mine copper, usually along with other metals and minerals.
- Copper futures ETFs: These ETFs aim to provide investors with exposure to the price of copper by investing in futures contracts that derive their value from copper prices.
Three top copper ETFs
A few ETFs provide investors with direct exposure to the copper market. Here are three top copper-focused ETFs to consider:
Copper ETF | Ticker symbol | Assets under management | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
Global X Copper Miners ETF | $3.2 billion | Copper miners | |
United States Copper Index ETF | $303 million | Copper futures | |
iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF | $96.5 million | Copper and metals mining companies |
Data source: ETF Database. Data as of Oct. 10, 2025.
Global X Copper Miners ETF
NYSEMKT: COPX
Key Data Points
United States Copper Index ETF
NASDAQ: ICOP
Key Data Points
The iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF aims to provide investors with exposure to global copper and metal ore miners that should benefit from rising demand for the metal.
The copper ETF held shares of almost 50 mining companies in late 2025, led by:
- Anglo American (NGLOY +1.63%): 8.1% of the fund's holdings.
- Grupo México: 7.7%.
- BHP Group (BHP +1.28%): 7.4%.
- Freeport-McMoRan (FCX +2.86%): 6.6%.
- Newmont (NEM +5.84%): 5.4%.
The fund enables investors to hold shares of companies that have some copper mining operations.
The iShares Copper and Metals Mining ETF had a 0.47% expense ratio.
Pros and cons of investing in copper ETFs
Investing in copper ETFs has its benefits and drawbacks. Some of the advantages of copper ETFs are:
- Broad exposure: Investing in a copper mining ETF provides investors with broad exposure to the entire copper mining sector.
- Income: Many copper mining stocks pay dividends, which copper mining ETFs collect and distribute to fund investors.
- Upside to copper prices: Copper ETFs enable investors to potentially capitalize on the future rise in the price of copper.
On the other hand, some cons of copper ETFs are:
- Not pure plays: Most copper mining companies produce other metals in addition to copper, which dilutes the impact of the growth in the copper market on their businesses. Meanwhile, copper futures ETFs derive their value from futures contracts, not from owning physical copper.
- Underperformance potential: Copper ETF could underperform the price of copper or the top copper mining stocks due to high exposure to non-copper metals and other factors.
Key considerations when investing in copper ETFs
Investors interested in copper ETFs need to consider several factors before buying a copper ETF. These include:
- ETF type: Investors need to determine if they want an ETF that invests in copper mining companies or copper futures contracts.
- Volatility: Investors need to consider whether they can handle the volatility of copper prices and the potential impact on their portfolio.
- Income: They need to decide whether they want to collect dividend income from copper mining stocks or just participate in the potential upside of copper prices.
- Cost: Investors need to determine if the expense ratio of a copper ETF is worth it.
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How to use copper ETFs
Copper ETFs offer a way to invest in the thesis that copper prices will rise in the future. However, copper ETFs can underperform the price of copper due to the risks facing mining companies and the costs associated with rolling copper futures contracts.
Of the two copper ETF strategies, copper mining stock ETFs offer the potential for upside beyond the rise in copper prices. A mining-focused ETF gives long-term investors a better return profile for the risk.
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