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The VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF (REMX) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to track the performance of an index composed of companies involved in the exploration, mining, and processing of rare earth elements and strategic metals. The ETF is managed by VanEck Associates Corporation and trades under the ticker REMX on NYSE Arca.
Classified as a global thematic equity ETF focused on rare earth and strategic metals, REMX aims to reflect, before fees and expenses, the combined price and income return of the stocks included in its benchmark index.
To achieve this objective, the fund employs a passive management strategy, maintaining a portfolio that seeks to replicate the composition and weighting of a representative rare earth and strategic metals index.
REMX tracks the MVIS Global Rare Earth/Strategic Metals Index, which includes companies from various countries that operate across the critical metals value chain, weighted by float-adjusted market capitalization, with periodic rebalancing to reflect changes in market conditions and eligibility.
Diversification and sector exposure
REMX provides exposure to the natural resources sector, with companies operating in segments such as:
Mining and extraction of rare earths and strategic metals.
Processing and refining of critical minerals.
Providers of equipment and services for the mining industry.
Structure and costs
Shares of REMX are traded on the secondary market, while creation and redemption of shares are carried out by authorized participants, a mechanism that helps keep the ETF’s market price close to its net asset value (NAV).
The fund carries an expense ratio consistent with thematic sector ETFs, reflecting the specialized nature of its strategy, and does not charge a performance fee. REMX may make periodic income distributions, derived from dividends paid by companies in its portfolio, when applicable. The ETF has a single share class and trades exclusively under the ticker REMX.
History and evolution of the ETF
VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF was launched in 2010, amid growing investor interest in thematic exposures tied to technology, renewable energy, and critical materials supply chains.
Since its inception, has been used by institutional and individual investors seeking thematic exposure to strategic metals and rare earth companies, complementing traditional equity and natural resource allocations.
Between 2020 and 2024, REMX’s behavior was closely tied to global discussions around the concentration of rare earth supply, particularly in China, and initiatives aimed at diversifying critical mineral supply chains.
The fund reflected increased attention to industrial policies, supply security, and the strategic role of critical minerals in electrification and the energy transition, factors that influenced the sector’s dynamics during this period.
