Learn About the Different Types of Commodity ETFs

Learn About the Different Types of Commodity ETFs explained by professional Forex trading experts the “ForexSQ” FX trading team.

Learn About the Different Types of Commodity ETFs

There’s no doubt that commodity ETFs make it much easier to invest in commodities. You don’t have to buy bags of grain to feed the livestock in your backyard or build a power plant in your basement to harness nuclear energy. Instead, you can call your broker or even hop on your laptop and trade a buy an ETF online. One trade, one transaction, little commission.

Picking the right commodity ETF, on the other hand, is a different story.

Below is a list of the different types of commodity ETFs you can potentially include in your portfolio. From broad commodity funds to specific industry ETFs, there’s a fund that makes sense for your investing strategy. Just make sure you watch and research each one before you make any trades.

Broad Commodity ETFs

Commodity ETFs are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that invest in physical commodities, such as agricultural goods, natural resources, and precious metals. A commodity ETF is usually focused on either a single commodity, holding it in physical storage, or in the cse of the ETFs below, track a diversified basket of commodities.

BCM – iPath Pure Beta Broad Commodity ETN
CCX – WisdomTree Dreyfus Commodity Currency Fund
CCXE – WisdomTree Commodity Country Equity Fund
CMD – UltraShort DJ-AIG Commodity ProShares ETF
CRBQ – Thomson Reuters/Jefferies CRB Global Commodity Index ETF (Closed)
DBC – PowerShares DB Commodity Index Tracking ETF

DDP – PowerShares DB Commodity Short ETN
DEE – PowerShares DB Commodity Double Short ETN
DJCI – UBS E-TRACS DJ-UBS Commodity Index Total Return ETN
DJP – iPath Dow Jones-AIG Commodity Index Total Return ETN
DPU – PowerShares DB Commodity Long ETN (Closed)
DYY – PowerShares DB Commodity Dble Long ETN
GCC – GreenHaven Continuous Commodity Index ETF

GSG – iShares S&P GSCI Commodity-Indexed Trust
GYLD – Arrow Dow Jones Global Yield ETF
PDBC – Power Shares DB Optimum Yield Diversified Commodity Strategy Portfolio
RGRC – RBS Rogers Enhanced Commodity ETN (Closed)
RJI – ELEMENTS Rogers International Commodity ETN
UCD – Ultra DJ-UBS Commodity ProShares ETF
USCI – United States Commodity Index Fund

Broad Agriculture ETFs

These ETFs invest in a broad range of agricultural products.

ADZ – PowerShares DB Agriculture Short ETN
AGA – PowerShares DB Agriculture Double Short ETN
AGF – PowerShares DB Agriculture Long ETN
CROP – IQ Global Agribusiness Small Cap Equity ETF
DAD – PowerShares DB Agirculture Double Short ETF
DAG – PowerShares DB Agriculture Double Long ETN
DBA – PowerShares DB Agriculture ETF
DIRT – iPath Pure Beta Agriculture ETN
JJA – iPath DJ-UBS Agriculture Total Return Sub-Index ETN
MOO – Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF
PAGG – PowerShares Global Agriculture ETF
RGRA – RBS Rogers Enhanced Agriculture ETN
TAGS – Teucrium Agriculture ETF
UAG – UBS E-TRACS CMCI Agriculture Total Return ETN
USAG – United States Agriculture Index ETF
VEGI – iShares MSCI Global Agricultural Producers Fund

Individual Types of Agriculture ETFs

These invest in individual types of agricultural products.

CHOC – iPath Pure Beta Cocoa ETN
NIB – iPath DJ-UBS Cocoa Total Return Sub-Index ETN
CAFÉ – iPath Pure Beta Coffee ETN
JO – iPath DJ-UBS Coffee Total Return Sub-Index ETN
BAL – iPath Dow Jones AIG Cotton TR Sub-Index ETN
CTNN – iPath Pure Beta Cotton ETN
CORN – Teucrium Corn Fund
PBJ – PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF
GRU – ELEMENTS MLCX Grains Index Total Return ETN
JJG – iPath DJ-UBS Grains Total Return Sub-Index ETN
WEET – iPath Pure Beta Grains ETN
WEAT – Teucrium Wheat Fund
COW – iPath DJ AIG Livestock TR Sub-Idx ETN
LSTK – iPath Pure Beta Livestock ETN
UBC – UBS E-TRACS CMCI Livestock Total Return ETN
CANE – Teucrium Sugar Fund
SGAR – iPath Pure Beta Sugar ETN
SGG – iPath DJ-UBS Sugar TR Sub-Index ETN
SOYB – Teucrium Soybean Fund
CUT – Claymore/Beacon Global Timber Index ETF
WOOD – iShares S&P Global Timber & Forestry Index ETF

SOIL – Global X Fertilizers/Potash ETF

Energy ETFs

These ETFs invest in a broad range of energy sources.

AXEN – iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Energy Sector Index ETF
CHIE – Global X China Energy ETF
DBE – PowerShares DB Energy ETF
ENY – Claymore/SWM Canadian Energy Income ETF
ERX – Direxion Daily Energy Bull 3X Shares ETF
ERY – Direxion Daily Energy Bear 3X Shares ETF
FILL – iShares MSCI Global Energy Producers Fund
FXN – First Trust Energy AlphaDEX ETF
GEX – Market Vectors Global Alternatve Energy ETF
ICLN – iShares S&P Global Clean Energy Index ETF
IPW – SPDR S&P International Energy Sector ETF
IXC – iShares S&P Global Energy Sector ETF
IYE – iShares Dow Jones US Energy Sector ETF
JJE – iPath DJ-UBS Energy Total Return Sub-Index ETN
ONG – iPath Pure Beta Energy ETN
PBD – PowerShares Global Clean Energy ETF
PBW – PowerShares WilderHill Clean Energy ETF
PSCE – PowerShares S&P SmallCap Energy Portfolio
PUW – PowerShares WilderHill Progressive Energy ETF
PXE – PowerShares Dynamic Energy Exploration & Production ETF
PXI – PowerShares Dynamic Energy ETF
QCLN – First Trust NASDAQ Clean Edge Green Energy Index ETF
RGRE – RBS Rogers Enhanced Energy ETN
RJN – ELEMENTS Rogers International Commodity Energy ETN
RYE – Rydex S&P Equal Weight Energy ETF
UBN – UBS E-TRACS CMCI Energy Total Return ETN
VDE – Vanguard Energy ETF
XLE – Energy Select Sector SPDR

Individual Types of Energy ETFs

These ETFs track specific types of energy.

FUE – ELEMENTS MLCX Biofuels Index Total Return ETN
GRN – iPath Global Carbon ETN
KOL – Market Vectors Coal ETF
UGA – United States Gasoline ETF
NLR – Market Vectors Nuclear Energy ETF
NUCL – iShares S&P Global Nuclear Energy Index ETF
KWT – Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF
TAN – Claymore/MAC Global Solar Energy ETF
FAN – First Trust Global Wind Energy ETF
URA – Global X Uranium ETF

Oil ETFs

Another popular type of commodity ETF is oil and natural gas. However, since oil and gas can’t be stockpiled like precious metals, these ETFs invest in futures contracts instead of the commodity itself.

BARL – Morgan Stanley S&P 500 Crude Oil Linked ETN
BNO – United States Brent Oil Fund
CRUD – Teucrium WTI Crude Oil Fund
DBO – PowerShares DB Oil Fund
DDG – The Short Oil and Gas ProShares ETF
DNO – United States Short Oil Fund ETF
DTO – PowerShares DB Crude Oil Double Short ETN
DUG – UltraShort Oil & Gas ProShares ETF
FOL – FactorShares 2X Oil Bull/S&P500 Bear ETF
HUC – Horizons BetaPro Winter-Term NYMEX Crude Oil ETF
IOIL – Global Crude Oil Small Cap Equity ETF
OIH – Market Vectors Oil Services ETF
OIL – Goldman Sachs Crude Oil Total Return ETN
OILZ – ETRACS Oil Futures Contango ETN
OLEM – iPath Pure Beta Crude Oil ETN
OLO – PowerShares DB Crude Oil Long ETN
SCO – ProShares UltraShort DJ-AIG Crude Oil ETF
SZO – PowerShares DB Crude Oil Short ETN
TWTI – RBS Oil Trendpilot ETN
USO – United States Oil Fund ETF
USL – United States 12 Month Oil Fund ETF
UHN – United States Heating Oil Fund ETF
UCO – ProShares Ultra DJ-AIG Crude Oil ETF
FRAK – Market Vectors Unconventional Oil & Gas ETF
SNDS – Sustainable North American Oil Sands ETF

Natural Gas ETFs

DCNG – iPath Seasonal Natural Gas ETN
BOIL – ProShares Ultra DJ-UBS Natural Gas ETF
KOLD – UltraShort DJ-UBS Natural Gas ETF
DDG – The Short Oil and Gas ProShares ETF
FCG – First Trust ISE-Revere Natural Gas ETF
FRAK – Market Vectors Unconventional Oil & Gas ETF
GASL – Direxion Daily Natural Gas Related Bull 3X Shares ETF
GASX – Direxion Daily Natural Gas Related Bear 3X Shares ETF
GASZ – ETRACS Natural Gas Futures Contango ETN
GAZ – iPath DJ AIG Natural Gas TR Sub-Index ETN
IGAS – Global Natural Gas Small Cap Equity ETF
MLPG – UBS E-TRACS Alerian Natural Gas MLP Index ETN
NAGS – Teucrium Natural Gas Fund
UNG – United States Natural Gas ETF
WCAT – Jefferies TR/J CRB Wildcatters Exploration & Production Equity ETF

Natural Resource ETFs

Natural Resources ETFs invest in companies that are engaged in the production, distribution, and storage of natural resources, including but not limited to metals, agricultural goods, lumber, and oil & gas.

GNAT – WisdomTree Global Natural Resources Fund
GNR – SPDR S&P Global Natural Resources ETF
GRES – IQ ARB Global Resources ETF
GUNR – FlexShares Morningstar Global Upstream Natural Resources Index Fund
IGE – iShares S&P North America Natural Resources ETF

Water ETFs

Water Equities ETFs invest in companies that process and distribute water, arguably the most important resource on the planet.

CGW – Claymore S&P Global Water ETF
FIW – First Trust ISE Water ETF
PHO – PowerShares Water Resources ETF

Precious Metal ETFs

Precious metals like gold and silver are popular ETFs because the underlying commodity can’t go bad or spoil.

BLNG – iPath Pure Beta Precious Metals ETN
DBP – PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund ETF
GLTR – ETFS Physical Precious Metal Basket Shares
JJP – iPath DJ-UBS Precious Metals Total Return Sub-Index ETN
PSAU – PowerShares Global Gold & Precious Metals ETF
RGRP – RBS Rogers Enhanced Precious Metals ETN
WITE – ETFS Physical WM Basket Shares ETF
XME – SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF

Gold ETFs

AGOL – ETFS Physical Asian Gold Shares ETF
DGLD – 3x Inverse Gold ETN
DUST – Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bear 3x Shares ETF
FSG – FactorShares 2X Gold Bull/S&P500 Bear ETF
GDX – the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF
GDXJ – Market Vectors Gold Miners Junior ETF
GGGG – Global X Pure Gold Miners ETF
GLD – StreetTracks Gold Shares ETF
GLDX – Global X Gold Explorers ETF
GLL – the UltraShort Gold ProShares ETF
GLZ – IQ Global Gold Small Cap Equity ETF
HUG – Horizons BetaPro COMEX Gold ETF
IAU – iShares COMEX Gold Trust ETF
NUGT – Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 3x Shares ETF
SGOL – ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares ETF
TBAR – RBS Gold Trendpilot ETN
UGL – the ProShares Ultra Gold ETF
DBB – PowerShares DB Base Metals Fund ETF
DBP – PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund ETF
GLTR – ETFS Physical Precious Metal Basket Shares
PSAU – the PowerShares Global Gold & Precious Metals ETF
RING – iShares MSCI Global Gold Miners Fund
UGLD – 3x Long Gold ETN
XME – the SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF

Other Types of Precious Metal ETFs

These ETFs focus on investments in precious metals, including silver, platinum, palladium and white metals.

AGQ – the ProShares Ultra Silver ETF
DBS – PowerShares DB Silver Fund ETF
HUZ – Horizons BetaPro COMEX Silver ETF
SIL – Global X Silver Miners ETF
SIVR – ETFS Physical Silver Shares ETF
SLV – iShares Silver Trust ETF
SLVP – iShares MSCI Global Silver Miners Fund
USV – E-TRACS UBS Bloomberg CMCI Silver Index ETN
ZSL – ProShares UltraShort Silver ETF
USLV – 3x Long Silver ETN
DSLV – 3x Inverse Silver ETN
GLTR – ETFS Physical Precious Metal Basket Shares
WITE – ETFS Physical WM Basket Shares ETF
COPX – Global X Copper Miners ETF
CUPM – iPath Pure Beta Copper ETN
CU – First Trust ISE Global Copper Index Fund
JJC – iPath DJ-UBS Copper Total Return Sub-Index ETN
CPER – United States Copper Index Fund
PPLT – the ETFS Platinum Physical Shares ETF
PLTM – First Trust ISE Global Platinum Index Fund
PTM – E-TRACS UBS Long Platinum ETN
PTD – E-TRACS UBS Short Platinum ETN
PGM – iPath DJ-UBS Platinum TR Sub-Index ETN
PALL – the ETFS Palladium Physical Shares ETF
LPLT – 2x Long Platinum ETN
IPLT – 2x Inverse Platinum ETN
JJN – iPath DJ-AIG Nickel Total Return Sub-Index ETN
NINI – iPath Pure Beta Nickel ETN

Base and Industrial Metals ETFs

These ETFs offer exposure to the prices of various base and industrial metals such as aluminum, lead, copper, and nickel.

BDD – PowerShares DB Base Metals Double Long ETN
BDG – PowerShares DB Base Metals Long ETN
BOM – PowerShares DB Base Metals Double Short ETN
BOS – PowerShares DB Base Metals Short ETN
DBB – PowerShares DB Base Metals ETF
GRWN – iPath Pure Beta Softs ETN
HEVY – iPath Pure Beta Industrial Metals ETN
JJM – iPath DJ-UBS Industrial Metals Total Return Sub-Index ETN
PICK – iShares MSCI Global Select Metals & Mining Producers Fund
REMX – Market Vectors Rare Earth Strategic Metals ETF
RGRI – RBS Rogers Enhanced Industrial Metals ETN
RJZ – ELEMENTS Rogers International Commodity Metal ETN
SLX – Market Vectors Steel ETF
UBM – UBS E-TRACS CMCI Industrial Metals Total Return ETN
USMI – United States Metals ETF
XME – SPDR S&P Metals & Mining ETF

Other Types of Metal ETFs

FOIL – iPath Pure Beta Aluminum ETN
JJT – iPath DJ-UBS Tin Total Return Sub-Index ETN
JJU – iPath DJ-UBS Aluminum Total Return Sub-Index ETN
LEDD – iPath Pure Beta Lead ETN
LIT – Global X Lithium ETF

Materials ETFs

Materials ETFs offer exposure to both domestic and foreign equities operating in the basic materials sector – the production and distribution of chemicals, lumber, metals, and other raw materials.

AXMT – iShares MSCI ACWI ex US Materials Sector Index ETF
CHIM – Global X China Materials ETF
FXZ – First Trust Materials AlphaDEX ETF
IRV – SPDR S&P Interntial Materials Sector ETF
IYM – iShares Dow Jones US Basic Materials ETF
MATL – Direxion Daily Basic Materials Bull 3X Shares ETF
PYZ – PowerShares Dynamic Basic Materials ETF
RTM – Rydex S&P Equal Weight Materials ETF
SBM – ProShares Short Basic Materials ETF
SMN – UltraShort Basic Materials ProShares ETF
UYM – Ultra Basic Materials ProShares ETF
VAW – Vanguard Materials ETF