Argon: Overview
Welding shields, steel stirring and silicon crystals
What this tab covers What the chemical is, how big its market is, what it is used for (with shares, volumes, why it wins and what could replace it), and its chain from raw material to end user. Ends with three things to remember.Argon is 0.93% of air by volume. It is recovered as a side-stream of cryogenic air separation units that make oxygen and nitrogen, so supply depends on how many large oxygen plants run, not on argon demand. It is heavier than air and fully inert, which makes it the standard shield gas for welding and the purge gas in steel ladles, titanium and silicon crystal growth. The US alone used about 2 Mt in 2025 (USGS). Prices are low in normal times but spike when ASUs shut.
Volume world output not published; US sales about 1.1 billion m3 (about 2.0 Mt) in 2025 Market value not published; indicative world value a few billion dollars (basis: Mt-scale volumes at $0.7-0.8/kg bulk) Growth US sales rose from 1.0 billion m3 (2021-2023) to 1.1 billion m3 (2025) USGS MCS 2026, Helium and Rare Gases (1 m3 = 0.0018 t); Procurement Resource (2026) for priceKey uses
| Use | Share | Annual volume | Why this commodity | Alternatives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welding and metal fabrication (shield gas, argon-CO2 blends) | 66% | about 1.3 Mt (US)basis | Argon shields molten weld metal from oxygen and nitrogen in MIG and TIG welding. It is cheaper than helium and gives a stable arc. Most is sold in cylinders and as blends with CO2 or oxygen. USGS MCS 2026 | Helium CO2 for carbon steel MIG Nitrogen in some cases (USGS) |
| Steelmaking (argon-oxygen decarburisation, ladle stirring, degassing) | 20% | about 0.4 Mt (US)basis | Stainless steel is refined in AOD converters, where argon dilutes oxygen so that carbon burns off without losing chromium. Bubbling argon through ladles mixes the steel and removes inclusions. USGS MCS 2026 | Nitrogen for some grades Vacuum degassing |
| Electronics and solar (silicon crystal growth, semiconductor processing, lighting) | 10% | about 0.2 Mt (US)basis | Czochralski pullers that grow silicon ingots for chips and solar wafers run under a constant argon flow. Fabs use argon in sputtering and etching. Solar ingot growth in China is a large and fast-growing argon user (indicative). USGS MCS 2026 | None at scale for crystal growth |
| Other (insulated glazing, lamps, titanium and specialty metals, wine and food) | 4% | about 0.08 Mt (US)basis | Argon fills double glazing to cut heat loss and protects reactive metals such as titanium and zirconium during production. USGS MCS 2026 | Krypton in high-end glazing Helium |
From raw material to user
- Large cryogenic ASU Only ASUs with argon columns recover argon; the US had 274 argon-producing operations in 2025 (USGS).
- Crude argon column An argon-rich side-draw from the oxygen column gives crude argon; air holds up to about 55 kg of argon per t of oxygen (basis: air composition by mass).
- Refining Oxygen and nitrogen are removed by distillation or catalytic deoxo to 99.999% purity.
- Liquid storage and bulk delivery Liquid argon at -186 C is trucked to steel mills, cylinder fillers and fabs.
- Cylinders and blends Distributors fill cylinders and argon-CO2 blends for welders.
Three things to know
- Argon supply is a by-product: it is only made when an ASU makes oxygen, so it can be scarce while oxygen demand is weak.
- Welding takes 66% of US argon and steelmaking 20% (USGS 2025).
- Bulk argon cost about $786/t CIF India and $695/t FOB China in August 2026 (Procurement Resource).