Helium
An inert gas recovered from a few natural-gas fields, essential for MRI magnets, chipmaking and anything colder than liquid nitrogen.
Industrial minerals · No. 55
- EU critical 2023
Helium boils colder than any element, is irreplaceable for MRI magnets, and a third comes from Qatar via the Strait of Hormuz.
Chart: Illustration: Helium
Where it comes from
Chart: Map of where it comes from
Helium forms as uranium and thorium decay in rock and gathers in some natural-gas fields. Plants chill the gas to crude helium of 60-80%, then purify it to at least 99.997%.
Three things to know
- World output of 190 million cubic metres in 2025 weighs only about 32,000 t, using USGS conversion factors.
- Lab and specialty gases took 22% of US helium in 2025 and MRI 15%; for cryogenics below -429 F nothing can replace it.
- US Grade-A and gaseous helium sales were about 81 million cubic metres in 2025, worth an estimated $970 million.
The journey
- 1 Gas reservoirHelium from uranium and thorium decay
- 2 Gas processingChilled to crude helium, 60-80% He
- 3 PurificationGrade-A, at least 99.997%
- 4 LiquefactionShipped in cryogenic ISO containers
- 5 End usesMRI, chip fabs, labs, welding, lifting