# Helium: Stocks

A century of US reserves, and Qatar's 'large' unknown

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

A century of US reserves, and Qatar's 'large' unknown What this tab covers How much is left and how much is held. For minerals and energy: reserves, current output, years of supply and recycling for the top five countries. For farm commodities: production, ending stocks and stocks-to-use for the top five producers (USDA, October 2026). It also covers inventories and stockpiles.

#### Top five countries: reserves, output and years of supply

| Country | Reserves million m3 helium | Current output million m3 helium (2025e) | Years of supply | Recycling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **United States** | 8,500 | 81 | 105 | n/a |
| **Qatar** | – | 63 | – | n/a |
| **Russia** | 1,700 | 18 | 94 | n/a |
| **Algeria** | 1,800 | 11 | 164 | n/a |
| **Canada** | – | 6 | – | n/a |

 USGS MCS 2026, Helium and rare gases (world production and reserves table). Years of supply = reserves ÷ current output; reserves grow as prices and technology change, so this is not a countdown.

#### Recycling

Qatar's reserves are listed only as 'large' and Canada's as not available (USGS MCS 2026). Large-volume helium uses are seldom recycled in the US; boil-off recovery and closed-loop systems are spreading (USGS 2026). The EU end-of-life recycling input rate is 2% (EU CRM 2023). Identified resources outside the US total 31.3 billion m3, led by Qatar (10.1 billion), Algeria (8.2) and Russia (6.8) (USGS). World output was 190 million m3 in 2025.

World reserves are not totalled. The United States reports 8,500 million cubic metres, about a century of US output at 2025 rates. Algeria (1,800 million) and Russia (1,700 million) follow, and Qatar's reserves are listed only as 'large'. Identified resources outside the United States are 31.3 billion cubic metres, led by Qatar (10.1 billion). Helium that is vented with gas is lost to space, so storage matters. Three Texas locations store helium in underground caverns, and a storage cavern at Beaumont came online in 2025. EU end-of-life recycling input is only 2%.

#### Recycling
 End-of-life recycling input rate in the EU: 2% of demand met from post-consumer scrap (EU CRM study 2023).

Large-volume uses are seldom recycled, though boil-off recovery and closed-loop systems are becoming more common.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/helium/index.md)
- [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)
- [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)