Best Lithium ETFs to buy in 2023

The price of lithium has skyrocketed in recent years and ETFs are an easy way to to invest in it. This page selects the best lithium ETFs for the year ahead.
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Updated: Oct 11, 2022
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Demand for lithium has continued to surge thanks to its application in EVs and batteries. Investing in lithium ETFs is one of the easiest ways to ride its growing trend. Read on to learn about our investment analysts’ top lithium ETF picks for this year.

What are the top lithium ETFs to buy?

Our expertly selected lithium ETFs are in the table below. You can use their ticker symbols to find them on your broker account, or continue scrolling to learn more about each in detail.

#ETF symbolETF nameWhere to Trade
1LITGlobal X Lithium and Battery Tech
Buy LIT

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2BATTAmplify Lithium and Battery Technology ETF
Buy BATT

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3CHRGWisdomTree Battery Solutions UCITS ETF
Buy CHRG

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

4ARKQARK Autonomous Tech. & Robotics ETF
Buy ARKQ

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

5QCLNFirst Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Green Energy ETF
Buy QCLN

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

List chosen by our team of analysts, updated 14 April 2022

1. Global X Lithium and Battery Tech (NYSEARCA: LIT)

The LIT fund invests in a range of companies and is a top option for investors wanting exposure to the full lithium cycle. Its holdings cover all aspects of lithium, from miners to battery producers and everything in between. Founded in 2010, LIT seeks to track the performance of the Solactive Global Lithium index. 

The Global X Lithium and Battery Tech ETF has over $4.5 under management and includes stocks from all over the world. However, the majority of the fund is invested in USA and Chinese based companies where 60% of its holdings reside. It operates a tired weighting system meaning it allocates more money to companies it has the most confidence in. 

LITs top ten holdings amount to over 50% of the fund. Some of the largest lithium stocks in the world are included in it. Its top two are miner/producer Albemarle and EV manufacturer, Tesla. Other notable companies include BYD, Samsung, and Quimica. Its exposure to the best lithium stocks has seen its price surge by more than 400% since 2020. 

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2. Amplify Lithium and Battery Technology ETF (NYSEARCA: BATT)

BATT is a new fund and was only created back in 2018. Compared to the Global x above, it’s much smaller in size, with just 87 holdings and net assets of around $200 million. It tracks the performance of the EQM Lithium & Battery Technology Index and invests in stocks that generate revenue from the development, production and use of lithium battery technology. 

Amplify’s fund invests in companies globally although has a heavy weighting towards the Asian lithium market. It invests in a variety of companies and includes a number of well known electric vehicle manufacturers. Tesla, BYD, and Rivian Automotive are some of the fund’s biggest investments. 

Since its inception in 2018 its price has experienced big swings. In its first 18 months of trading it lost 70% in value, however when the lithium bull run started in 2020, it was able to regain its losses. BATT may not be as large as other lithium ETFs however it gives investors a good option to play the lithium battery market, which is only expected to grow in the future. 

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3. WisdomTree Battery Solutions UCITS ETF  (LSE: CHRG)

The WisdomTree Battery Solutions is another newly created ETF. Launched in 2022, it aims to track the performance and price of the WisdomTree Battery Solutions Index by investing in companies working within the battery technology sector.   

Like most lithium based funds, a lot of the companies it holds reside in the USA or China. Almost half the the ETF is weighted to these two regions. Some of its top holdings are lithium battery manufacturers like Simplo technologies and Enersys. Its top ten investments amount to only 30% of its total holdings, so it’s more equal than other ETFs on our list. 

CHRG came to the market at the perfect time. Since its inception in March 2020, it’s mostly  moved in one direction, upwards. Despite a slight dip in price in its first few weeks, it has gone on to rally by over 100% in the time since. As it targets battery companies it includes a lot of holdings that are not direct lithium plays, making it a more diverse ETF. 

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

4. ARK Autonomous Tech. & Robotics ETF (NYSEARCA: ARKQ)

ARKQ is another ETF that is not directly focused on lithium, but does give exposure to it through many of its holdings. The fund invests in a number of different sectors and includes some of the world’s top electric vehicle businesses. Tesla, BYD, Nio, and Niu technologies are its four biggest lithium based investments. 

Alongside the EV market, it invests in robotics, 3D printing, energy, and space, offering investors easy access to a wide range of growth industries. While it spreads its investments globally, the majority of the fund belongs to US based companies. Its top ten holdings amount to over 50% of its total, with its largest investment, Tesla making up 10% of the fund. 

Since its inception in 2014 its performance has been solid and in early 2021 it reached its all time high. Although ARKQ doesn’t offer a pure play lithium investment, its diverse portfolio offers a lot of opportunity in high growth markets. Many of its investments rely on lithium batteries and the fund offers an indirect way to invest in the commodity. 

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

5. First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Green Energy ETF (NASDAQ: QCLN)

Final spot on our list goes to the First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Smart Green Energy ETF. It’s another fund that does not track lithium companies only, but rather the wider clean energy sector. Around 20% of the fund invests in the automobile industry, which in QCLNs case, means the electric vehicle market. 

Through the ETFs investments in many of the world’s leading EV manufacturers, investors gain access to lithium. Infact, its two top holdings give a lot of exposure to lithium. Its largest investment is Tesla, followed by lithium company Albemarle corporation. Other notable lithium investments include, Nio and xPeng, both of which are included in its top ten. 

Its performance replicates that of the clean energy industry, which in recent years has seen a surge in popularity. From 2020 to 2021 the fund grew by 400% before giving back some gains coming into 2022. With nearly $3 billion under management, QCLN is the second largest fund on our list. 

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Where to buy the best lithium ETFs

You can buy the best ETFs lithium through an online broker. Our investment experts have selected some of the top platforms around offering ETFs which you can find in the table below. Just click on any of the links to get started in a few minutes.

1
Min. Deposit
$ 10
Best offer
User Score
10
Up to $240 bonus!
Deposit with ACA, Wire, Pay with my bank
Invest for dividends and get payout on stocks on Ex-Dividend day
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
CySEC, FCA

77% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

2
Min. Deposit
$ 0
Best offer
User Score
10
Get insights from millions of investors, creators, and analysts
Build your portfolio of stocks, ETFs, and crypto–all in one place
No minimum deposit
Start Trading
Payment Methods:
Bank Wire, Check, Debit Card, Wire Transfer
Full Regulations:
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3
Min. Deposit
$ 100
Best offer
User Score
7.5
Trade out-of-hours on over 70+ US stocks
Get exposure to a wide range of popular UK, US and international stocks
Enjoy flexible access to more than 17,000 global markets, with reliable execution
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Payment Methods:
Bank Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal
Full Regulations:
ASIC, FCA, FINMA, is a licensed bank (IG Bank in Switzerland)
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

What is a lithium ETF?

It’s an exchange traded fund that invests in companies that generate large portions of their revenues from lithium. Exchange traded funds are available to buy on the stock market and you’re able to buy shares in them through a stock broker. Each fund usually tracks the performance of a specific industry or index. 

There are very few ETFs that focus specifically on lithium. However there are many that include lithium companies as major holdings in their portfolios. Eclectic vehicle manufactures are a popular way to benefit from  lithium prices as they use the commodity to power their cars. 

Are lithium ETFs a good investment?

Yes they can be, especially if recent history is anything to go by. The price of lithium has surged in recent years and that’s largely due to its use in batteries. The popularity of electric vehicles has also benefited the price of lithium. The EV market is expected to continue growing as traditional car makers move into the space. 

By 2027 the lithium market is expected to grow to $4.93 billion, up from $3.39 in 2020 and investing in ETFs that focus on it, is one of the easiest ways to ride its anticipated growth. If you do decide to buy a lithium ETF you’ll need to register with an online broker. It’s also a good idea to keep up to date with the latest news which you can do on the links below and keep up to date with the best performing ETFs of the current year.

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Prash Raval
Financial Writer
When not researching stocks or trading, Prash can be found either on the golf course, walking his dog or teaching his son how to kick a… read more.