2025 has been a spectacular year for a range of commodities.
For example, the gold price has jumped by 63% since early January to more than US$4,250 per ounce.
Overall, the precious metal has notched up fresh all-time highs on dozens of occasions throughout the year.
Not surprisingly, the gold price has also comfortably outpaced the broader market.
During the same period, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) has risen by 4.87%.
But gold isn't the only metal breaking new ground in 2025.
Both silver and copper hit record prices in recent days, with silver even eclipsing gold's performance.
To elaborate, the silver price has skyrocketed by approximately 120% since the start of the year, currently trading above US$63 per ounce.
The copper price also reached a historic milestone on Thursday, surpassing US$11,800 per tonne for the first time on the London Metal Exchange.
The red metal has now risen by 35% just this year.
These stellar price runs have helped propel two ASX-listed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to their own all-time highs.
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Modern-day metals
Silver has long been regarded as a safe-haven asset, commonly used in jewellery, coins, or as bullion stored in vaults.
However, the metal's role is rapidly expanding.
Demand from solar panel manufacturers has more than doubled since 2016, and its use in electronics has also grown significantly.
These evolving applications are reshaping the metal's supply and demand dynamics and helping to drive the silver price higher.
Meanwhile, copper has long been seen as a barometer of economic health.
It has even been nicknamed 'Dr Copper' in some financial circles, due to the metal's perceived ability to predict the health and turning points of the global economy.
Traditionally, copper boasts mass industrial applications.
But the metal is also becoming increasingly important to the world's energy transition, with heavy use in electric vehicles and charging infrastructure.
It is also a key ingredient in AI data centres thanks to its conductivity and efficiency in power distribution and cooling.
These applications point towards strong long-term demand and help support an upward trajectory for the copper price.
Record-breaking ASX ETFs
Investors looking to capture the momentum in these booming metals have an array of options.
Amongst others, specialised ASX ETFs provide one practical avenue.
Firstly, the Global X Physical Silver Structured ETF (ASX: ETPMAG) has been available for Aussie investors since 2009.
This ASX ETF is designed to generate returns that mirror the silver price in Australian dollars, minus management fees.
It hit an all-time high this week, ending Thursday at $86.20 per share.
Overall, shares in this ASX ETF have now risen by about 96% since the start of the year.
Meanwhile, the Global X Copper Miners AUD ETF (ASX: WIRE) also reached a new peak in intraday trading on Thursday.
This ASX ETF has been providing access to a basket of the world's leading copper miners since its founding in late 2022.
The fund's holdings include positions in some leading ASX 200 mining stocks, including BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR).
Shares in this ASX ETF have now surged by 62% since the beginning of January, closing yesterday at $20.30 each.
