# Helium

An inert gas recovered from a few natural-gas fields, essential for MRI magnets, chipmaking and anything colder than liquid nitrogen.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/

Industrial minerals · No. 55

- EU critical 2023
 Industrial minerals · Foundation · Matter

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

1. World output of 190 million cubic metres in 2025 weighs only about 32,000 t, using USGS conversion factors.
2. Lab and specialty gases took 22% of US helium in 2025 and MRI 15%; for cryogenics below -429 F nothing can replace it.
3. US Grade-A and gaseous helium sales were about 81 million cubic metres in 2025, worth an estimated $970 million.

##### The journey

1. 1 **Gas reservoir**Helium from uranium and thorium decay
2. 2 **Gas processing**Chilled to crude helium, 60-80% He
3. 3 **Purification**Grade-A, at least 99.997%
4. 4 **Liquefaction**Shipped in cryogenic ISO containers
5. 5 **End uses**MRI, chip fabs, labs, welding, lifting
 Covered in [What makes something a commodityCommodities](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/commodities/what-is-a-commodity/)[Criticality and geopoliticsCommodities](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/commodities/criticality-and-geopolitics/)[Energy, power and the units that measure themEnergy](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/energy/energy-power-units/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/correlation/index.md)
- [Extraction](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/extraction/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/production/index.md)
- [Stocks](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/stocks/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/movement/index.md)
- [Criticality](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/criticality/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/links/index.md)