# Electronic specialty gases: Trading

Who sells chip gases and how helium is priced

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/trading/

What this tab covers How it is bought and sold: buyers and sellers, price benchmarks and who publishes them, exchanges, contract types, traders, how Indian buyers price it, recent price points, and good sources to follow.

#### Who buys, and where

- Fabs in Taiwan (TSMC, PSMC, VIS), Korea (Samsung, SK hynix), China, Japan, the US and, from 2025-26, India (Micron Sanand)
- Display and solar cell makers (NF3, silane)

#### Who sells, and from where

- Air Liquide, Linde, Air Products, Nippon Sanso
- Specialists: SK Specialty, Hyosung, Kanto Denka, Resonac, Merck, Peric, Huate

#### Price benchmarks

| Benchmark | Publisher | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| **Helium Grade-A base price** | USGS (annual estimate) | $/m3, annual |
| **Chinese NF3 and rare gas prices** | SMM and Chinese gas industry sites (indicative) | spot, CNY |

#### Exchanges

| Venue | Contract | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| **None** | no futures | all contract |

#### Contract types

- Multi-year supply agreements with qualification
- On-site build-own-operate contracts for bulk gases (15-20 years, indicative)
- Bulk specialty gas delivery and gas management services in the sub-fab

#### Traders and distributors

- Few; distribution is controlled by gas majors

#### How Indian buyers price it

- Imported at supplier list or contract prices; Semicon 2.0 incentives may support local filling, purification and on-site plants

#### Recent price points

| Date | Price | Basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | **about $12/m3 ($330/Mcf)** | Grade-A helium base price, US | USGS MCS 2026 |
| Jun 2026 | **spot about double pre-conflict levels** | helium, Asia | IUMI (Jun 2026) |

#### Good sources to follow
[Semiconductor Digest (TECHCET market notes)](https://www.semiconductor-digest.com/techcet-forecasts-6-3b-electronic-gases-market-in-2025)free newsletter · Semiconductor Digest

semiconductor materials market forecasts
[gasworld](https://www.gasworld.com/)freemium newsletter · industrial gas trade publisher

industrial and electronic gases, helium market
[Smith market intelligence](https://smithweb.com/market-intelligence/helium-shortage-update-april-9-2026/)free blog · Smith (electronic components distributor)

supply-chain risk notes such as the 2026 helium shortage
[IUMI newsletter](https://iumi.com/newsletter-june-2026/qatari-helium-shortages/)free newsletter · International Union of Marine Insurance

cargo and supply disruptions, including the 2026 Qatari helium shortage

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/production/index.md)
- [Feedstocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/feedstocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/cycles/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/links/index.md)