Individual

For people managing their own savings and investments.

Financial advisors and wealth managers

For people managing savings and/or investments on behalf of someone else.

Institutional

For pension schemes, insurers, charities, universities, family offices and treasurers.

Change country site
  1. Homepage
  2. Investment solutions
  3. Commodities
Industrial metals

Invest in the potential of industrial metals

Why industrial metals

Pie chart

Diversification

Industrial metals are a unique asset class within the commodities sector that may allow investors to gain exposure to the global energy transition, providing diversification potential within an investment portfolio.

ESG

Necessity

Energy is necessary for economic activity and, globally, economies are shifting from fossil fuel-derived energy to renewable energy sources which require industrial metal-based infrastructure.

Demand

Almost every renewable energy system uses large amounts of industrial metals, including electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, solar panels, grid-level batteries and carbon-capture systems.

Industrial metal diversification [1]

The Bloomberg Industrial Metals Subindex Total Return consists of aluminum, copper, lead, nickel and zinc futures contracts with a maturity between one and three months. These metals are at the foundation of the global energy transition. Holding a variety of industrial metals offers exposure to a broader range of potential market opportunities and may perform more consistently than owning any single metal.

Aluminium

Aluminium

Aluminum's strength and weight make it a good choice for construction of aircraft, railroad cars and automobiles.

Copper

Copper

The housing and construction industry represents the largest market for copper. There is nearly 400 lbs of copper in just about every American home.

Lead

Lead

Lead is a soft, dense metal that is an important component in battery production due to its low melting point. Lead-acid batteries are used to store energy in a variety of applications, including electric vehicles, e-bikes, and renewable energy installations.

Nickel

Nickel

Nickel is primarily used in the production of stainless steel and other corrosion resistant alloys. But it's also useful in power generation and pollution control, as well as chemical and pharmaceutical production.

Zinc

Zinc

Zinc is commonly used to galvanize steel and is used in other metal alloys because of its anti-corrosion properties.

Potential benefits of the abrdn Bloomberg Industrial Metals Strategy K-1 Free ETF (BCIM)

Within a diversified investment portfolio, the abrdn Bloomberg Industrial Metals Strategy K-1 Free ETF (Ticker: BCIM) may provide a cost-effective way to gain exposure to industrial metals that are integral to the future foundation of energy needs. BCIM combines the diversification potential of aluminum, copper, lead, nickel and zinc with the convenience of one investment option.

Access to the diversification potential of industrial metals.

Dollar price tag

Competitive net expense ratio of .40% helps keep portfolio costs low.

ETF structure is designed to be easily accessible and liquid.

Learn more about BCIM

The abrdn Bloomberg Industrial Metals Strategy K-1 Free ETF (the “Fund”) seeks to provide investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the Bloomberg Industrial Metals Total Return SubindexSM.

Learn more about the fund

[1] Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.

abrdn investments
Contact us and support
Accessibility
Cookie policy
Legal and regulatory
Legal notice
Privacy
SecurityOpens in new window
FINRA Broker Check (open in a new window)Opens in new window
Copyright © abrdn plc. All rights reserved.
Please call 844-383-7289 or click here to access a prospectus online. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. ETF shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund.
'33 Act Fund Disclosure:
The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are as of the date of this report. All information is historical and not indicative of future results and subject to change. Reader should not assume that an investment in any securities and/or precious metals mentioned was or would be profitable in the future. This information is not a recommendation to buy or sell. Past performance is not a guide to future results.
The abrdn Silver ETF Trust, abrdn Gold ETF Trust, abrdn Platinum ETF Trust, abrdn Palladium ETF Trust and abrdn Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust are not investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 or a commodity pool for purposes of the Commodity Exchange Act. Shares of the Trusts are not subject to the same regulatory requirements as mutual funds. These investments are not suitable for all investors. Trusts focusing on a single commodity generally experience greater volatility.
Commodities generally are volatile and are not suitable for all investors. Trusts focusing on a single commodity generally experience greater volatility. Please refer to the prospectus for complete information regarding all risks associated with the Trusts.
The value of the Shares relates directly to the value of the precious metal held by the Trust and fluctuations in the price could materially adversely affect investment in the Shares. Several factors may affect the price of precious metals, including: A change in economic conditions, such as a recession, can adversely affect the price of the precious metal held by the Trust. Some metals are used in a wide range of industrial applications, and an economic downturn could have a negative impact on its demand and, consequently, its price and the price of the Shares; Investors’ expectations with respect to the rate of inflation; currency exchange rates; interest rates; Investment and trading activities of hedge funds and commodity funds; and global or regional political, economic or financial events and situations. Should there be an increase in the level of hedge activity of the precious metal held by the Trust or producing companies, it could cause a decline in world precious metal prices, adversely affecting the price of the shares. Should there be an increase in the level of hedge activity of the precious metal held by the Trust or producing companies, it could cause a decline in world precious metal prices, adversely affecting the price of the shares.
Also, should the speculative community take a negative view towards the precious metal held by the Trusts, it could cause a decline in prices, negatively impacting the price of the shares. There is a risk that part or all of the Trusts’ physical precious metal could be lost, damaged or stolen. Failure by the custodian or sub-Custodian to exercise due care in the safekeeping of the precious metal held by the Trusts could result in a loss to the Trusts.
The Trusts will not insure its precious metals and shareholders cannot be assured that the custodian will maintain adequate insurance or any insurance with respect to the precious metals held by the custodian on behalf of the Trust. Consequently, a loss may be suffered with respect to the precious metal that is not covered by insurance. Commodities generally are volatile and are not suitable for all investors.
Diversification does not eliminate the risk of experiencing investment losses.
Investors buy and sell shares on a secondary market (i.e., not directly from Trusts). Only market makers or “authorized participants” may trade directly with the Trusts, typically in blocks of 50k to 100k shares. Commodities generally are volatile and are not suitable for all investors.
This material must be accompanied or preceded by the prospectus. Carefully consider each Trust’s investment objectives, risk factors, and fees and expenses before investing. To view the prospectus, please click here – abrdn Silver ETF Trust, abrdn Gold ETF Trust, abrdn Platinum ETF Trust, abrdn Palladium ETF Trust and abrdn Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust.
ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the marketing agent for abrdn Silver ETF Trust, abrdn Gold ETF Trust, abrdn Platinum ETF Trust, abrdn Palladium ETF Trust and abrdn Precious Metals Basket ETF Trust.
'40 Act Fund Disclosure:
An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Funds carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus containing this and other important information, call 844-ETFs-BUY (844-383-7289) or visit www.abrdn.com/usa/etf. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.
Fund Risk: There are risks associated with investing including possible loss of principal. Commodities generally are volatile and are not suitable for all investors. There can be no assurance that the Fund’s investment objective will be met at any time. The commodities markets and the prices of various commodities may fluctuate widely based on a variety of factors. Because performance is linked to the performance of highly volatile commodities, investors should consider purchasing shares of the Fund only as part of an overall diversified portfolio and should be willing to assume the risks of potentially significant fluctuations in the value of the Fund.
The Fund employs a “passive management” – or indexing – investment approach designed to track the performance of the Index. The Fund will generally seek to hold similar interests to those included in the Index and will seek exposure to many of the commodities included in the Index under the same futures rolling schedule as the Index. The Fund will also hold short-term fixed-income securities, which may be used as collateral for the Fund’s commodities futures holdings or to generate interest income and capital appreciation on the cash balances arising from its use of futures contracts (thereby providing a “total return” investment in the underlying commodities).
Through holding of futures, options and options on futures contracts, the Fund may be exposed to (i) losses from margin deposits in the case of bankruptcy of the relevant broker, and (ii) a risk that the relevant position cannot be closed out when required at its fundamental value. In pursuing its investment strategy, particularly when rolling futures contracts, the Fund may engage in frequent trading of its portfolio of securities, resulting in a high portfolio turnover rate.
As a “non-diversified” fund, the Fund may hold a smaller number of portfolio securities than many other funds. To the extent the Fund invests in a relatively small number of issuers, a decline in the market value of a particular security held by the Fund may affect its value more than if it invested in a larger number of issuers. The value of shares may be more volatile than the values of shares of more diversified funds.
During situations where the cost of any futures contracts for delivery on dates further in the future is higher than those for delivery closer in time, the value of the Fund holding such contracts will decrease over time unless the spot price of that contract increases by the same rate as the rate of the variation in the price of the futures contract. The rate of variation could be quite significant and last for an indeterminate period of time, reducing the value of the Fund.
Changes in the laws of the United States and/or the Cayman Islands, under which the Fund and the Subsidiary are organized, respectively, could result in the inability of the Subsidiary to operate as intended and could negatively affect the Fund and its shareholders.
To the extent the Fund is exposed directly or indirectly to leverage (through investments in commodities futures contracts) the value of that Fund may be more volatile than if no leverage were present.
In order to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment accorded to a regulated investment company (“RIC”), the Fund must derive at least 90% of its gross income in each taxable year from certain categories of income (“qualifying income”) and must satisfy certain asset diversification requirements. Certain of the Fund’s investments will not generate income that is qualifying income. The Fund intends to hold such commodity-related investments indirectly, through the Subsidiary. The Fund believes that income from the Subsidiary will be qualifying income because it expects that the Subsidiary will make annual distributions of its earnings and profits. However, there can be no certainty in this regard, as the Fund has not sought or received an opinion of counsel confirming that the Subsidiary’s operations and resulting distributions would produce qualifying income for the Fund. If the Fund were to fail to meet the qualifying income test or asset diversification requirements and fail to qualify as a RIC, it would be taxed in the same manner as an ordinary corporation, and distributions to its shareholders would not be deductible by the Fund in computing its taxable income.
Investors buy and sell shares on a secondary market (i.e., not directly from Trusts). Only market makers or “authorized participants” may trade directly with the Trusts, typically in blocks of 25k to 100k shares.
Bloomberg®, Bloomberg Commodity Index Total ReturnSM, Bloomberg Commodity Index 3 Month Forward Total ReturnSM and Bloomberg Industrial Metals Subindex Total ReturnSM are service marks of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates, including Bloomberg Index Services Limited (“BISL”), the administrator of the indices (collectively, “Bloomberg”) and have been licensed for use for certain purposes by abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC. Bloomberg is not affiliated with abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC, and Bloomberg does not approve, endorse, review, or recommend abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Strategy K-1 Free ETF, abrdn Bloomberg All Commodity Longer Dated Strategy K-1 Free ETF and abrdn Bloomberg Industrial Metals K-1 Free ETF. Bloomberg does not guarantee the timeliness, accurateness, or completeness of any data or information relating to Bloomberg Commodity Index Total ReturnSM, Bloomberg Commodity Index 3 Month Forward Total ReturnSM and Bloomberg Industrial Metals Subindex Total ReturnSM.
ALPS Distributors, Inc. is the distributor for the abrdn ETFs. ALPS is not affiliated with abrdn.
In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, and abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC.