Helium Gas Market Opportunity Analysis & Industry Forecast, 2024–2030
Helium Gas Market Overview
Request Sample:
The growing need for helium in lifting applications, food packaging and the burgeoning electronics markets adds to its demand. Additionally, innovations in helium recovery and recycling, alongside strategic stockpiling by nations, emphasize its significance in ensuring supply chain security amidst resource constraints. The growing investments in helium exploration also drives the market by addressing supply challenges, supporting diverse applications, and ensuring long-term stability.
A notable trend in the helium gas market is the growing interest in space exploration. This reflects humanity’s pursuit of technological innovation, cosmic discovery and potential new resources. In March 2024, Japan launched a multibillion-dollar Space Strategic Fund aimed at supporting the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The $6.7 billion fund, approved for a decade-long period, will facilitate the development, technology demonstration and commercialization of cutting-edge space technologies, driving significant growth in the country’s space sector. Helium hard drives are HDDs sealed with helium instead of air, leveraging helium’s low density to reduce turbulence and friction, allowing for thinner platters, increased capacity (up to 10 platters), improved performance, energy efficiency, cooler operation, reduced noise and enhanced reliability. Helium HDDs are vital in large-scale data centers for efficient storage.
Market Snapshot :
Helium Gas Market — Report Coverage:
The “Helium Gas Market Report — Forecast (2024–2030)” by IndustryARC, covers an in-depth analysis of the following segments in the Helium Gas Market.
AttributeSegment
By Form
Liquified
Compressed
By Supply
Cylinders
Bulk and Micro Tanks
Drum
On-site
By Purity
High Purity Helium
Medium-Purity Helium
Industrial-Grade Helium
By Application
MRI Scanning
Welding and Metal Fabrication
Cryogenics
Lifting and Balloons
Leak Detection
Breathing Mixes
Pressurizing and Purging
Controlled Atmosphere Source
Others
By End-Use Industry
Healthcare
Electronics
Aerospace and Defence
Energy
Industrial Manufacturing
Others
By Geography
North America (U.S, Canada and Mexico)
Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Rest of Europe)
Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Rest of Asia-Pacific)
South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Rest of South America)
Rest of the World (Middle East and Africa).
Inquiry Before Buying:
COVID-19 / Ukraine Crisis — Impact Analysis:
Initially, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a decrease in helium demand due to reduced industrial and medical activities during lockdowns. This temporarily alleviated the helium shortage by reducing consumption. However, as industries resumed operations, the demand surged, leading to a tighter supply and rising prices. Challenges in global logistics also disrupted the helium supply chain exacerbating shortages.
Russia, a major global supplier of helium, faced production and export restrictions due to the war. Facilities like the Amur Gas Processing Plant, critical to Russia’s helium production, experienced operational disruptions. European countries’ shift away from Russian natural gas further complicated helium extraction processes in regions like Algeria, which redirected its natural gas to pipelines instead of liquefying it to extract helium. These disruptions contributed to a major helium shortage in two decades increasing global supply constraints and driving up costs.
Key Takeaways
MRI Scanning is the Largest Segment by Application
Helium, specifically in its liquid state, is a cryogenic substance used to cool the superconducting magnets in MRI systems to extremely low temperatures (around -269°C or 4 Kelvin). These low temperatures are necessary for the magnets to achieve and sustain superconductivity, which is critical for generating the strong and stable magnetic fields required for high-resolution imaging. According to Collective Minds, the global volume of MRI scans continues to grow annually, with current estimates ranging from 100–150 million scans worldwide. The demand for helium in this sector is substantial, as MRI technology is widely used in medical diagnostics to visualize detailed internal structures of the human body, aiding in the detection and monitoring of diseases. As per the 2024 India Private Equity Report, healthcare investments in India hit a record high of $5.5 billion in 2023, driven by a threefold increase compared to 2022. Additionally, the growth of the healthcare sector, advancements in imaging technology and increasing prevalence of conditions requiring MRI diagnostics further bolster the helium demand.
Schedule A Call:
Medium Purity Helium is the Largest Segment
Medium Purity Helium (99.0% to 99.99%) is the largest segment in the helium market due to its widespread applications across various industries, driven by both its properties and cost-effectiveness. In the manufacturing sector, it is extensively used in welding for non-ferrous metals like aluminium and copper, where high-quality, stable inert gases are essential for precise, clean welding. The welding industry is growing primarily driven by the construction and automotive industry. According to the American Welding Society, the US will require more than 360,000 welders by 2027. In the cryogenic industry, medium purity helium is a key component in cooling systems for MRI machines, superconducting magnets and particle accelerators. The combination of its versatile properties, availability, and lower cost compared to higher-purity helium makes it a highly attractive option for industries that require a reliable and efficient gas.
North America Leads the Market
North America continues to dominate the global helium gas market, bolstered by its abundant natural helium reserves and advanced extraction and distribution infrastructure. The United States, in particular, holds significant helium resources in regions such as the LaBarge field in Wyoming and the Texas Panhandle, which are key sources for the global market. Additionally, several companies are now interested in the helium exploration business which contribute to cutting-edge production, liquefaction and distribution technologies. Additionally, the region’s strong industrial base and healthcare advancements ensure a steady and robust demand for helium across sectors such as cryogenics, healthcare, aerospace, and manufacturing. In September 2024, North American Helium’s 9th helium purification facility at Antelope Lake, Saskatchewan, became operational. The facility has a production capacity of approximately 50 MMcf/year, increasing the company’s total capacity to 210 MMcf/year. NAH has reached a US $ 0.35 billion investment milestone in Saskatchewan, supported by government incentives such as the Critical Minerals Processing Investment Incentive (CMPII). Since launching its first facility in 2020, NAH, as of September 2024, produces ~7% of North America’s helium and aims for 20%.
Buy Now :
Limited Helium Reserves and Extraction Dependence to Hamper the Market
For more details on this report — Request for Sample
Key Market Players
Global Helium Gas top 10 companies include:
Air Liquide SA
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Linde Plc
QatarEnergy LNG
Iwatani corporation
Messer Group
Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc.
North American Helium (NAH)
Gazprom
By Form, By Supply, By Purity, By Application, By End-Use Industry and By Geography
Geographies Covered
North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Rest of Asia-Pacific), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Rest of South America), Rest of the World (Middle East and Africa)
Key Market Players
Air Liquide SA
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
Linde Plc
QatarEnergy LNG
Iwatani corporation
Messer Group
Nippon Sanso Holdings Corp
Matheson Tri-Gas Inc.
North American Helium (NAH)
Gazprom
For more Chemicals and Materials Market reports, please click here
