Investing in Platinum ETFs

Platinum ETFs are investment funds that provide exposure to the platinum market. They're generally the most convenient way to invest in platinum.

Precious metals can be a good way to diversify your investment portfolio. Demand for these metals could also steadily increase as the electric vehicle (EV) market grows and the use of semiconductors increases with the popularity of artificial intelligence (AI).

Top platinum ETFs

Top platinum ETFs in 2025

Platinum is a precious metal with multiple industrial uses. It’s found in electric car batteries, as well as some fuel cells (such as hydrogen) used in the energy grid. Platinum is also used in the manufacture of semiconductors and other electrical components, medical devices, and industrial chemicals.

Given the difficulty with investing in platinum, that’s where a platinum ETF or another precious metals ETF might come into play

1. Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF

1. Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF

Abrdn (PPLT 2.48%), formerly Standard Life Aberdeen, offers the largest platinum ETF. The Abrdn Physical Platinum Shares ETF has $1.6 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of September 2025.

Launched in 2010, this platinum ETF has been around longer than many of its competitors and is a fairly safe option. Its portfolio consists of platinum bars stored in a JPMorgan Chase (JPM 1.55%) vault in London. The ETF’s objective is to mirror the price of platinum, less a fund fee of 0.6% annually ($6 for every $1,000 invested).

2. GraniteShares Platinum Trust

2. GraniteShares Platinum Trust

GraniteShares (PLTM 2.52%) is a newer asset manager, having launched its first ETF in 2017. Its platinum offering, the GraniteShares Platinum Trust, was launched in 2018. The expense ratio is 0.5% per year. You save a little money on fees with this ETF, but it's a much smaller fund than Abrdn's, so there isn't as much liquidity.

The GraniteShares Platinum Trust also represents a physical portfolio of platinum ingots kept in a vault. The vault is audited twice per year, and inspection reports are available on the GraniteShares website.

3. iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF

3. iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF

If you’re interested in directly investing in mining stocks, consider the iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF. (PICK 1.91%) This is not a pure play on platinum or precious metals. Rather, the ETF portfolio consists of more than 260 global mining stocks. It has an annual expense ratio of only 0.39%.

Although this is not a direct investment in platinum, iShares MSCI Global Metals & Mining Producers ETF is worth a look. It's an indirect way of investing in platinum and other precious metals, and it has a fairly high dividend.

What to consider

What to consider when investing in platinum ETFs

Before you invest in platinum ETFs, here's what to consider:

• Decide what type of platinum ETF you want. There are funds that hold platinum directly, that use platinum futures contracts, or that provide indirect exposure through platinum mining companies.
• Compare expense ratios. While fees aren't everything, they cut into your returns, so you don't want an ETF that's overly expensive.
• Check the liquidity. One of the benefits of investing in platinum through an ETF is that it's easier to buy and sell, but only if the fund has sufficient trading volume.
• Make sure it's secure. Read about how the fund keeps its platinum reserves safe, and check how frequently these reserves are audited.

Pros and cons

Pros and cons of investing in platinum ETFs

Platinum ETFs have their benefits and drawbacks. Here are the pros of investing in them:

• Diversification: Since precious metals are a different asset class than stocks and bonds, platinum ETFs allow you to diversify and reduce risk in your portfolio.
• Hedge against inflation: While gold is the precious metal that's most often considered a hedge against inflation, platinum can also hold its value better than the U.S. dollar.
• Convenience: You can buy shares in platinum ETFs through a brokerage account, making this a fast and easy way to invest in platinum.

Now, let's look at the downsides:

• Volatility: Platinum prices are more volatile than those of gold and silver. There are fewer mining sites and a much smaller overall market for platinum, and its price depends heavily on demand from automakers.
• Management fees: The disadvantage of platinum ETFs is that they don't quite match the price of platinum because of the expense ratio. Even though there are platinum ETFs with reasonable fees, they're still more expensive than what many stock index funds charge.
• May underperform: Platinum has some growth potential, but stocks are a better choice for growth-oriented investors.

How to invest

How to invest in platinum ETFs

When you're ready to buy shares in a platinum ETF, here's how to do it:

1. Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
2. Search for the ETF: Enter the ticker or ETF name into the search bar to bring up the ETF's trading page.
3. Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
4. Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
5. Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
6. Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Should you invest?

Should you invest in platinum ETFs?

Platinum is an interesting asset if you're considering investing in commodities. The demand for precious metals could increase in the coming years as cars and trucks go electric and as other parts of the global energy grid make use of renewable energy sources. However, like other mined commodities, platinum prices will be volatile and unpredictable.