Performance data is updated to 31 May 2026.
VanEck FTSE China A50 ETF (CETF) — Review & Analysis
CETF tracks the FTSE China A50 Index — the 50 largest companies listed on the mainland Chinese A-share market (Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges). AUM is $38.04 million as at May 2026 with a 0.60% p.a. management fee. Compare CETF across the China cohort on our Asia ETF page or use the Compare ETFs tool to put it side-by-side with IZZ, CNEW or DRGN.
The A-share versus H-share split is the key distinction. IZZ (iShares China Large-Cap, 0.60%) holds Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies — names like Tencent, Alibaba and Meituan — while CETF holds A-shares listed onshore, which skew toward state-owned banks, insurance, liquor (Kweichow Moutai), and industrial conglomerates. The two indices have very different sector profiles and correlations. CETF returned +16.3% over the past year to May 2026 — well ahead of IZZ's −8.3%, reflecting the policy-driven A-share rally onshore.
Structurally, CETF gives Australian investors direct A-share access through VanEck's QFII (Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor) channel — a structural advantage that the smaller AUM doesn't reflect. Liquidity is reasonable for a $38M fund, and the underlying A50 index is highly liquid in its home market. The drawback is concentration: financials and consumer staples dominate the index, and there is no tech-sector representation comparable to DRGN or CNEW.
For investors building a complete China exposure, CETF + DRGN (or CETF + IZZ) covers both sides of the market with no overlap. Read our Asia, China & Emerging Markets ETF guide for how A-shares and H-shares fit inside a full China allocation.
Performance (% return)
Investment Focus
Themes
Exposure Regions
Portfolio Breakdown
| Company Name | % assets |
|---|---|
| Kweichow Moutai Co Ltd | 9.70% |
| Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Ltd | 8.27% |
| China Merchants Bank Co Ltd | 4.16% |
| Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd | 3.90% |
| Ping An Insurance Group Co Of China Ltd | 3.66% |
| China Yangtze Power Co Ltd | 3.30% |
| Foxconn Industrial Internet Co Ltd | 3.18% |
| Zhongji Innolight Co Ltd | 3.03% |
| Agricultural Bank Of China Ltd | 2.92% |
| Hygon Information Technology Co Ltd | 2.87% |
| Sector | % assets |
|---|---|
| China | 95.3% |
| Taiwan Region | 3.5% |
| United Kingdom | 1.1% |
| Other/Cash | 0% |
Related Reads
Best Asia, China & Emerging Markets ETFs Australia 2026: The Complete Guide
No fund manager wrote this article. No issuer is paying for placement. This is an independent ranking of every Asia, China, Japan, India and emerging markets ETF listed on the ASX, using April 2026 CBOE Australia data.
Emerging Markets ETFs on the ASX: How to Access India, China, Asia, and the World's Fastest-Growing Economies
There are 29 ETFs on the ASX covering emerging markets, Asia, China, India, Japan, and Korea — with a combined $11.3 billion in assets under management. These funds give Australian investors access to economies that represent roughly 80% of the world's population and the lion's share of global GDP growth over the next two decades.
Similar ETFs
| Stock | Name | 1 Year % |
|---|---|---|
| CNEW | VanEck China New Economy ETF | +16.28% |
| DRGN | Global X China Tech ETF | +40.99% |
| ASAO | abrdn Sustainable Asian Opportunities Active ETF | +41.20% |
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Last updated: January 2026
