05.19.2025

Global ETFs Attract Record Net Inflows

05.19.2025
ETFs to Increasingly Replace Futures

ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm renowned for its expertise in subscription research, consulting services, events, and ETF TV on global ETF industry trends, reported that the global ETFs industry has attracted a record-breaking US$620.54 billion in net inflows during the first four months of 2025, according to ETFGI’s April 2025 Global ETFs and ETPs industry landscape insights report, the monthly report which is part of an annual paid-for research subscription service. (All dollar values in USD unless otherwise noted)

Highlights

  • Record net inflows of $620.54 Bn in the first 4 months of 2025, the second highest recorded YTD net inflows were $467.69 Bn in 2024 and the third highest YTD net inflows were $464.20 Bn in 2021.
  • Net inflows of $157.03 Bn during April.
  • 71st month of consecutive net inflows.
  • Assets of $15.44 Tn invested in the ETFs industry globally at the end of April, below the record high assets of $15.50 Tn at the end of February 2025.

“The S&P 500 index was down 0.68% in April and is down 4.92% YTD in 2025. The developed markets excluding the US index was up 4.86% in April and is up 10.85% YTD in 2025. Spain (up 8.65%) and Portugal (up 7.67%) saw the largest increases amongst the developed markets in April. The emerging markets index increased by 0.88% during April and is up 1.80% YTD in 2025. Hungary (up 10.78%) and Mexico (up 10.40%) saw the largest increases amongst emerging markets in April,” according to Deborah Fuhr, managing partner, founder, and owner of ETFGI.

 

Growth in assets in the Global ETFs industry as of the end of April

https://etfgi.com/sites/default/files/styles/feature_image/public/source_3.png?itok=sw3zyEon

The Global ETFs industry has 14,013 products, with 27,751 listings, assets of $15.44 Tn, from 858 providers listed on 81 exchanges in 63 countries at the end of April.

During April, ETFs gathered net inflows of $157.03 Bn. Equity ETFs gathered net inflows of $85.85 Bn, bringing YTD net inflows to $297.44 Bn, higher than the $263.08 Bn in net inflows YTD in 2024. Fixed income ETFs reported net inflows of $16.22 Bn during April, bringing YTD net inflows to $98.19 Bn, higher than the $80.34 Bn in net inflows YTD in 2024.

Commodities ETFs reported net inflows of $10.50 Bn during April, bringing YTD net inflows to $32.41 Bn, much higher than the $8.35 Bn in net outflows YTD in 2024. Active ETFs attracted net inflows of $32.20 Bn during the month, gathering net inflows for the year of $176.75 Bn, much higher than the $96.93 Bn in net inflows YTD in 2024.

Substantial inflows can be attributed to the top 20 ETFs by net new assets, which collectively gathered $88.28 Bn during April. Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO US) gathered $20.88 Bn, the largest individual net inflow.

Source: ETFGI

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