Is the VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ex China ETF (ASX:RESM) Worth a Look?

Sonal Goyal

24 August 2026 07:55 PM AEST

Is the VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ex China ETF (ASX:RESM) Worth a Look?

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Highlights

RESM closed at $24.75, up 4.70% during trading on 24 August 2026
The fund touched a 52-week high during the session
The fund is up approximately 14.06% over the past year
RESM was admitted to ASX trading in August 2026 as one of the newest thematic ETFs

The VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ex China ETF (ASX:RESM) closed at $24.75, up 4.70% for the day, after touching a 52-week high during the Trading session on 24 August 2026. The fund is up approximately 14% over the past year, reflecting strong investor interest in critical-minerals supply-chain diversification. With the fund closing higher, many investors are asking whether RESM is worth a look as a way to gain exposure to rare-earth and strategic-metals companies outside China.

About the VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ex China ETF

The VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ex China ETF (RESM) is a thematic exchange-traded fund providing Australian investors with targeted exposure to companies involved in the mining, processing and refining of rare-earth elements and other strategic metals outside of China. The fund's Investment approach reflects growing global recognition of the geopolitical and supply-chain risks associated with the concentration of critical-minerals production within a single country, given China's dominant position in global rare-earth Supply chains. By focusing specifically on companies operating outside China, RESM offers investors a way to gain exposure to the broader critical-minerals thematic while aligning with the global push toward diversifying supply chains for materials essential to defence, energy, electrification and advanced technology applications. As a passively managed fund tracking an underlying index of eligible companies, RESM's performance is directly tied to the collective performance of the global equities within its investment universe, spanning multiple countries and stages of the rare-earth and strategic-metals value chain, from exploration through to processing and refining operations.

Key Developments

RESM is one of the newest thematic ETFs on the ASX, having been admitted to trading in August 2026. The fund's launch gives Australian investors targeted exposure to companies involved in rare-earth and strategic-metal Mining and refining outside of China, addressing a specific and growing area of investor interest amid heightened global attention on critical-minerals supply-chain security. Its introduction to the market reflects broader investor Demand for thematic exposure to supply-chain Diversification strategies, as governments and industries worldwide increasingly prioritise reducing reliance on any single source for materials used in technology, defence, energy and electrification applications. A

Conclusion

RESM's recent strength reflects growing investor appetite for exposure to the rare-earth and strategic-metals sector outside of China, a theme underpinned by structural shifts in global supply-chain strategy. As one of the newest thematic ETFs on the ASX, RESM's early trading performance will continue to be shaped primarily by the performance of its underlying holdings rather than an established track record of its own. Investors interested in this fund should focus on the broader critical-minerals thematic and the performance of the global companies within the ETF's investment universe as the key drivers of future returns.

FAQs

Q: Why did RESM reach a 52-week high?

A: RESM rose alongside strong performance in its underlying rare-earth and strategic-metals holdings, reaching a 52-week high of $24.75 on 24 August 2026.

Q: What does the VanEck RESM ETF invest in?

A: RESM invests in companies involved in rare-earth and strategic-metal mining, processing and refining outside of China.

Q: When was RESM launched on the ASX?

A: RESM was admitted to ASX trading in August 2026.

Q: Why focus on companies outside China?

A: The fund targets supply-chain diversification given China's dominant position in global rare-earth production.

Q: Does RESM have an established track record?

A: No, as a newly launched fund, RESM does not yet have a conventional one-year operating history.

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