Asian ETFs on the ASX: The Complete List by Region (2026)

Christopher Hall
Jul 1
9 min read

Written by Christopher Hall, AdvDipFP | Authorised Representative, AFSL 526688 | Updated July 2026

There are 17 Asian ETFs listed on the ASX — funds that let an Australian investor hold Asian shares in a single ASX trade — spanning broad Asia ex-Japan portfolios, single-country funds for China, Japan, India and South Korea, and Asian-technology thematics. Measured on the ASX's May 2026 exchange-traded-product data, the lowest-cost is the iShares Asia 50 ETF (IAA) at 0.29% per annum, which is also the largest at roughly A$1.7 billion, while the strongest one-year total return in the group came from the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (IKO). This page lists every one of them by region, with fees, fund size and returns, so the whole shelf can be compared in one place.

Fund data below (management fees, fund size, distribution yield and total returns) is taken from the ASX's May 2026 ETP report; these figures move over time. This directory is organised by structure and long-run data — for which of these funds are leading on momentum right now, see the weekly tracker linked near the end.

Every Asian ETF on the ASX at a Glance

Ticker	Fund (issuer)	Exposure	MER % p.a.	ASX FUM (A$m)	1-yr total return	5-yr total return (p.a.)
IAA	iShares Asia 50	Asia ex-Japan large-cap	0.29	1,697	+80.2%	+13.8%
VAE	Vanguard FTSE Asia ex-Japan	Asia ex-Japan broad	0.40	856	+39.1%	+9.0%
ASAO	abrdn Sustainable Asian Opportunities (active)	Asia ex-Japan, ESG	1.18	1.95	+41.7%	n/a
EAFZ	Ellerston Asia Growth (active)	Asia high-conviction	0.95	42	+37.7%	n/a
FASI	Fidelity Asia (active)	Asia ex-Japan	1.16	30	+12.3%	n/a
ASIA	Betashares Asia Technology Tigers	Asia ex-Japan technology	0.67	1,521	+106.3%	+16.0%
DRGN	Global X China Tech	China technology	0.45	93	+41.1%	n/a
IZZ	iShares China Large-Cap	China large-cap	0.60	482	−8.6%	−1.8%
CETF	VanEck FTSE China A50	China A-shares (onshore)	0.60	38	+16.7%	−0.2%
CNEW	VanEck China New Economy	China new-economy A-shares	0.95	101	+16.5%	−1.5%
IJP	iShares MSCI Japan	Japan broad (unhedged)	0.50	1,516	+17.3%	+10.3%
HJPN	Betashares Japan (currency hedged)	Japan broad (AUD-hedged)	0.56	306	+54.7%	+20.4%
J100	Global X Japan Topix 100	Japan top 100	0.40	18	n/a	n/a
NDIA	Global X India Nifty 50	India large-cap	0.69	179	−22.0%	+4.0%
IIND	Betashares India Quality	India quality-factor	0.80	175	−21.3%	+2.3%
FIIN	Fidelity India (active)	India	1.20	6	−22.4%	n/a
IKO	iShares MSCI South Korea	South Korea	0.45	197	+209.4%	+21.2%

Source: ASX ETP report, May 2026 (returns, fund size and yield); management fees confirmed against provider product pages July 2026. FUM shown is the ASX-quoted fund size; some active ETFs also have unlisted unit classes not reflected here (for example, abrdn's Asian strategy is larger than its ASX-quoted ASAO units). "n/a" means the fund has not yet traded for that full period.

Broad Asia ex-Japan ETFs

These funds hold companies across the region in one portfolio, rather than betting on a single country.

IAA — iShares Asia 50. The largest and lowest-cost Asian ETF on the ASX: MER 0.29% p.a., ASX FUM ~A$1.70B. Tracks 50 of the largest companies across Asia ex-Japan, so it leans heavily toward Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean mega-caps.
VAE — Vanguard FTSE Asia ex-Japan Shares Index. MER 0.40%, FUM ~A$856m. A broad, low-cost index fund spanning hundreds of companies across the region — a wider net than IAA's top-50 approach.
ASAO — abrdn Sustainable Asian Opportunities (Active ETF). MER 1.18%, ASX FUM ~A$1.95m. An actively managed, ESG-adjusted portfolio benchmarked to the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Index. Small and thinly traded as ASX-quoted units, though the underlying strategy is larger.
EAFZ — Ellerston Asia Growth (Complex ETF). MER 0.95%, FUM ~A$42m. A benchmark-independent, high-conviction fund of 20–50 Asian large caps with ESG screens (excluding controversial weapons, tobacco, nuclear, coal, palm oil, gambling and pornography).
FASI — Fidelity Asia (Active ETF). MER 1.16%, FUM ~A$30m. An actively managed Asia ex-Japan fund run by Fidelity's regional team.

Asian Technology and China-Tech ETFs

The thematic funds — concentrated in technology and internet names rather than the whole market.

ASIA — Betashares Asia Technology Tigers. MER 0.67%, FUM ~A$1.52B. The largest Asian-technology thematic on the ASX, holding the leading technology and online-retail companies across Asia ex-Japan (Korean memory makers, Taiwanese chip names, Chinese internet giants). Its +106.3% one-year total return to May 2026 was the highest of any diversified fund in this list.
DRGN — Global X China Tech. MER 0.45%, FUM ~A$93m. Focused specifically on Chinese technology and internet companies.

China ETFs on the ASX

Three single-country China funds, differing mainly by which share class they hold.

IZZ — iShares China Large-Cap. MER 0.60%, FUM ~A$482m. The largest China fund here, holding the biggest Chinese companies (largely Hong Kong-listed shares).
CETF — VanEck FTSE China A50. MER 0.60%, FUM ~A$38m. Holds onshore Shanghai/Shenzhen-listed "A-share" mega-caps.
CNEW — VanEck China New Economy. MER 0.95%, FUM ~A$101m. An A-share fund tilted to "new economy" sectors such as consumer, technology and healthcare.

Japan ETFs on the ASX

IJP — iShares MSCI Japan. MER 0.50%, FUM ~A$1.52B. Broad, unhedged exposure to the Japanese market.
HJPN — Betashares Japan (currency hedged). MER 0.56%, FUM ~A$306m. The same broad Japan exposure with the Japanese yen hedged back to Australian dollars — its +54.7% one-year return reflects both the Japanese market and the hedge. The difference between IJP and HJPN is a useful illustration of currency hedging; see the guide linked below.
J100 — Global X Japan Topix 100. MER 0.40%, FUM ~A$18m. The 100 largest companies in the TOPIX index — a newer, smaller fund.

India ETFs on the ASX

NDIA — Global X India Nifty 50. MER 0.69%, FUM ~A$179m. The 50 largest Indian companies.
IIND — Betashares India Quality. MER 0.80%, FUM ~A$175m. Applies a quality-factor screen (profitability, low debt) rather than tracking a plain market index.
FIIN — Fidelity India (Active ETF). MER 1.20%, FUM ~A$6m. An actively managed India fund. The India funds all posted negative one-year returns to May 2026, a reminder that single-country exposure runs both ways.

South Korea ETF on the ASX

IKO — iShares MSCI South Korea. MER 0.45%, FUM ~A$197m. The only single-country South Korea ETF on the ASX, tracking the MSCI Korea index. Its +209.4% one-year total return to May 2026 was the highest in this entire list — driven by the same Korean memory-chip strength (SK Hynix, Samsung) that has lifted the broader Asian-technology funds. Past performance of that scale is not a guide to future returns.

How to Read This List

A few plain-English pointers for comparing the funds above:

MER (management expense ratio) is the annual cost, as a percentage of the amount invested. Index funds here range from 0.29% to 0.95%; the actively managed funds (ASAO, FASI, FIIN, EAFZ) generally charge more for professional management. Fees are one factor among several and do not, on their own, indicate suitability.
FUM (funds under management) is the fund's size. Larger funds such as IAA, ASIA and IJP tend to trade more tightly; very small ASX-quoted funds can have wider buy/sell spreads.
Total return windows (1-, 3- and 5-year) include both price movement and distributions. Newer funds show "n/a" for longer windows because they have not existed that long.
Index vs active and hedged vs unhedged are the two structural choices that most affect how these funds behave. For the currency question specifically, the hedged vs unhedged ETF guide for Australians walks through the trade-off that separates IJP from HJPN.

Which Asian ETFs Are Leading Right Now?

This directory is organised by structure and long-run data, not by current momentum. For which of these funds are leading on quarterly performance this week, Finer Market Points maintains a live ASX ETF momentum ranking, updated weekly. The two most recent deep-dives look at why very different funds ended up at the top together: why ASIA, ASAO and EAFZ produced near-identical returns, and the SEMI vs IKO vs ASIA crossover. The chip thematic underneath much of this Asian strength is covered in the ASX AI infrastructure research.

Access the Research Behind This List

Finer Market Points tracks momentum across ASX stocks and ASX-listed ETFs each week, using the same proprietary research framework. Members receive the underlying educational data early, ahead of the Gary Glover weekly session, through the FMP YouTube Membership.

Remember that past performance is no guarantee of future results, and all trading involves risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Asian ETFs are listed on the ASX?

As at the ASX's May 2026 ETP report, there are 17 ASX-listed ETFs offering Asian exposure. They cover broad Asia ex-Japan portfolios (IAA, VAE, ASAO, EAFZ, FASI), Asian technology (ASIA, DRGN), and single countries — China (IZZ, CETF, CNEW), Japan (IJP, HJPN, J100), India (NDIA, IIND, FIIN) and South Korea (IKO).

What is the cheapest Asian ETF on the ASX?

By management fee, the iShares Asia 50 ETF (IAA) is the lowest-cost at 0.29% per annum, followed by the Global X Japan Topix 100 (J100) and Vanguard FTSE Asia ex-Japan (VAE) at 0.40%. Fees are one factor among several and do not, on their own, indicate suitability.

What is the largest Asian ETF on the ASX?

By ASX-quoted funds under management in the May 2026 data, the iShares Asia 50 ETF (IAA) is the largest at roughly A$1.7 billion, followed closely by the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASIA) and the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (IJP), each around A$1.5 billion.

Is there a South Korea ETF on the ASX?

Yes. The iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (IKO) is the only single-country South Korea fund on the ASX, tracking the MSCI Korea index. It posted the highest one-year total return in this list to May 2026.

Are there China ETFs on the ASX?

Yes — three single-country China funds: iShares China Large-Cap (IZZ), which holds the largest Chinese companies; VanEck FTSE China A50 (CETF), holding onshore A-share mega-caps; and VanEck China New Economy (CNEW), tilted to consumer, technology and healthcare A-shares. The Global X China Tech ETF (DRGN) adds a China-technology thematic.

Which Asian ETF had the highest return?

Over the year to May 2026, the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (IKO) recorded the highest one-year total return in this group per ASX data, ahead of the Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASIA). Returns of that size reflect a specific period and are not a guide to future performance.

Is there an India ETF on the ASX?

Yes — three India funds are listed: the Global X India Nifty 50 ETF (NDIA), holding India's 50 largest companies; the Betashares India Quality ETF (IIND), which screens for profitability and low debt; and the actively managed Fidelity India Active ETF (FIIN). All three posted negative one-year total returns to May 2026, a reminder that single-country exposure can move sharply in both directions.

Is there a Japan ETF on the ASX, and what is the difference between hedged and unhedged?

Yes — three Japan funds are listed. The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (IJP) is broad and unhedged, so its Australian-dollar return also moves with the yen. The Betashares Japan ETF (HJPN) holds similar companies but hedges the yen back to Australian dollars, removing most of that currency effect. The Global X Japan Topix 100 ETF (J100) tracks Japan's 100 largest companies. The gap between IJP and HJPN over any period largely reflects currency movement.

Are there actively managed Asian ETFs on the ASX?

Yes. Most Asian ETFs on the ASX track an index, but four are actively managed: abrdn Sustainable Asian Opportunities (ASAO), Ellerston Asia Growth (EAFZ), Fidelity Asia (FASI) and Fidelity India (FIIN). An active manager selects holdings rather than replicating an index, and three of these (ASAO, FASI and FIIN) charge among the highest fees in the group at 1.16%–1.20% per annum. Fees are one factor among several and do not, on their own, indicate suitability.

Which Asian ETF on the ASX pays the highest distribution yield?

On the ASX's May 2026 data, the Ellerston Asia Growth Fund (EAFZ) showed the highest historical distribution yield in this group at 9.53%, followed by the Fidelity India Active ETF (FIIN) at 7.88% and the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (IJP) at 4.33%. Distribution yield is historical and varies year to year; a high yield does not, on its own, indicate suitability or a higher total return.

Which ASX ETF holds Asian tech stocks like TSMC, Samsung and SK Hynix?

The Betashares Asia Technology Tigers ETF (ASIA) is the most concentrated in those names, holding TSMC, SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics among its top positions. The same chip names also feature in the broad Asia funds (iShares Asia 50 and Vanguard FTSE Asia ex-Japan) and, for the Korean memory makers specifically, in the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (IKO). The Global X China Tech ETF (DRGN) covers Chinese technology rather than the Taiwanese and Korean chipmakers.

Sources

#	Source	Detail	Accessed
1	ASX (Australian Securities Exchange)	ETP monthly report — management fees, funds under management, distribution yield and 1/3/5-year total returns	May 2026
2	Fund providers (iShares, Vanguard, Betashares, Global X, VanEck, abrdn, Ellerston, Fidelity)	Fund mandates, index/benchmark and structure (index vs active, hedged vs unhedged)	2026

Educational Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Consider your financial situation and seek professional advice before making investment decisions.

Finer Market Points Pty Ltd, CAR 1304002, AFSL 526688, ABN 87 645 284 680. This general information is educational only and not financial advice, recommendation, forecast or solicitation. Consider your objectives, financial situation and needs before acting. Seek appropriate professional advice. We accept no liability for any loss or damages arising from use. Authors and presenters may hold positions in discussed companies and investment products.