The global helium market size reached a volume of about 6734.00 MMCF in 2024. The market is further estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.60% in the forecast period of 2025-2034 to reach a volume of around 9591.15 MMCF by 2034 . North America, Europe and Asia Pacific are expected to be key markets.
According to the helium market research, helium is commonly used in welding, pressurising and purging, cryogenics, breathing mixtures, leak detection, controlled atmospheres, and other processes. The chemical is used in a wide range of applications, including welding, metal production, nuclear power, semiconductors, aircraft, electronics, and electronic devices. Over the anticipated period, it is anticipated that the development of effective gas storage and transportation technologies will likely be one of the key global helium market trends.
Helium is used in the semiconductor manufacturing process for a variety of reasons, an aspect likely to influence the helium market price in coming years. Moreover, it is a gas that does not interact with other chemicals, as it is considered to be an inert gas. Helium also effectively conducts heat due to its high thermal conductivity, aiding in keeping silicon at a constant temperature throughout, which is becoming more significant as silicon circuitry gets smaller. It would be challenging to achieve this reduction without the process control that helium provides. Consequently, it is anticipated that the special properties of helium, which cannot be replaced by any other element, will increase the helium market share over the foreseeable future.
Global Market Likely to be Driven by Applications Across Sectors, Including Medical, Defence, Research, and Manufacturing
Helium (He), an inert gas, is the second lightest element (behind only hydrogen in lightness); it is colourless, odourless, and tasteless. Helium becomes liquid at -268.9 °C (-452 °F). The freezing and boiling points of helium are lower than those of any other substance known to man. To solidify helium, pressure of 25 atmospheres at a temperature of 1 K (-272 °C, or -458 °F) is required. According to the helium market report, helium has several applications which are supporting the market growth. It is employed as an inert-gas atmosphere for welding metals like aluminium .
As helium maintains its gaseous state at liquid-hydrogen temperature, it is used in rocket propulsion to pressurize fuel tanks, particularly those for liquid hydrogen. Helium is used as lifting gas for instrument-carrying balloons in meteorology. Liquid helium, being the coldest substance, is employed as coolant in cryogenics. Helium displays low solubility in the bloodstream, therefore, it is employed in high-pressure breathing operations, for example, a combination of helium and oxygen is employed for activities such as scuba diving and caisson work. Meteorites and rocks have been examined for helium content for the purpose of dating.
Today, helium is often found in laboratories to maintain very cold temperatures for experiments as helium can be cooled to temperatures near absolute zero. In the United States, the major use of helium is in cooling magnets in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, thus aiding the helium market size US. Liquid helium is used to cool magnets in the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, down to -456.34 degrees Fahrenheit (-271.3 degrees Celsius). Qatar and the United States are major producers of helium, along with Algeria, Australia, and Russia.
Furthermore, helium is used in the production of electronic devices (semiconductors, flat screens, etc.) As per helium market analysis, helium has important uses in fundamental research applications. The gas is used in research on nuclear fusion (ITER) or for particle accelerators (CERN).
However, fluctuations in and uncertainties related to helium production, supply and prices may hinder market growth.
According to the helium market research, helium is commonly used in welding, pressurising and purging, cryogenics, breathing mixtures, leak detection, controlled atmospheres, and other processes. The chemical is used in a wide range of applications, including welding, metal production, nuclear power, semiconductors, aircraft, electronics, and electronic devices. Over the anticipated period, it is anticipated that the development of effective gas storage and transportation technologies will likely be one of the key global helium market trends.
Helium is used in the semiconductor manufacturing process for a variety of reasons, an aspect likely to influence the helium market price in coming years. Moreover, it is a gas that does not interact with other chemicals, as it is considered to be an inert gas. Helium also effectively conducts heat due to its high thermal conductivity, aiding in keeping silicon at a constant temperature throughout, which is becoming more significant as silicon circuitry gets smaller. It would be challenging to achieve this reduction without the process control that helium provides. Consequently, it is anticipated that the special properties of helium, which cannot be replaced by any other element, will increase the helium market share over the foreseeable future.
Global Market Likely to be Driven by Applications Across Sectors, Including Medical, Defence, Research, and Manufacturing
Helium (He), an inert gas, is the second lightest element (behind only hydrogen in lightness); it is colourless, odourless, and tasteless. Helium becomes liquid at -268.9 °C (-452 °F). The freezing and boiling points of helium are lower than those of any other substance known to man. To solidify helium, pressure of 25 atmospheres at a temperature of 1 K (-272 °C, or -458 °F) is required. According to the helium market report, helium has several applications which are supporting the market growth. It is employed as an inert-gas atmosphere for welding metals like aluminium .
As helium maintains its gaseous state at liquid-hydrogen temperature, it is used in rocket propulsion to pressurize fuel tanks, particularly those for liquid hydrogen. Helium is used as lifting gas for instrument-carrying balloons in meteorology. Liquid helium, being the coldest substance, is employed as coolant in cryogenics. Helium displays low solubility in the bloodstream, therefore, it is employed in high-pressure breathing operations, for example, a combination of helium and oxygen is employed for activities such as scuba diving and caisson work. Meteorites and rocks have been examined for helium content for the purpose of dating.
Today, helium is often found in laboratories to maintain very cold temperatures for experiments as helium can be cooled to temperatures near absolute zero. In the United States, the major use of helium is in cooling magnets in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, thus aiding the helium market size US. Liquid helium is used to cool magnets in the Large Hadron Collider, the world's largest particle accelerator, down to -456.34 degrees Fahrenheit (-271.3 degrees Celsius). Qatar and the United States are major producers of helium, along with Algeria, Australia, and Russia.
Use of Helium in Medical Domain Expected to Stimulate Growth of Global Helium Market
The use of liquid helium in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) continues to increase with developments and new uses for equipment in the medical domain, thus increasing the helium market size. Modern equipment has to some extent reduced the need for exploratory surgery through accurate diagnosis. Another medical application includes MRE to conclude (through analysis of blood) whether an individual has any type of cancer. Canisters containing helium are used in the medical field to observe breathing; the gas is used in the treatment of asthma, emphysema, and other breathing related conditions, which is a major helium market trend.Applications in Advertising, Defence and Law Enforcement Likely to Boost Market Growth
As per the helium market forecast, helium is also used widely to advertise on blimps for different companies. Other lifting gas applications are being developed by defence forces to detect low-flying cruise missiles. Military submarine detectors employ liquid helium to clean up noisy signals. It is reported that the U.S. Air Force employs helium in experiments on superconductors as a power source. The Drug Enforcement Agency is reported to employ radar-equipped blimps to detect drug smugglers along the borders of the United States. NASA is reported to use helium-filled balloons to sample the atmosphere in Antarctica to identify the causes of depletion of the ozone layer. This will likely increase the global helium market size.Applications in Production and Research Expected to Drive Global Helium Market
Helium is used in the manufacture of fibre optics, vital to the deployment of 5G, which is expected to catalyse the helium market 2024. Helium is used in the preform production process, stage one of optic fibres manufacturing which comprises creating a precursor to the fibre, in particular for its reinforcement, and in the preform stretching process, to attain the optic fibre for efficient cooling.Furthermore, helium is used in the production of electronic devices (semiconductors, flat screens, etc.) As per helium market analysis, helium has important uses in fundamental research applications. The gas is used in research on nuclear fusion (ITER) or for particle accelerators (CERN).
However, fluctuations in and uncertainties related to helium production, supply and prices may hinder market growth.
Helium Industry Segmentation
The report titled “Helium Market Report and Forecast 2025-2034” offers a detailed analysis of the market based on the following segments:Market Breakup by Phase
- Liquid
- Gas
Market Breakup by Application
- Breathing Mixes
- Cryogenics
- Leak Detection
- Pressurizing and Purging
- Welding
- Controlled Atmosphere
- Others
Market Breakup by End User
- Aerospace and Aircraft
- Electronics and Semiconductors
- Nuclear Power
- Healthcare
- Welding and Metal Fabrication
- Others
Market Breakup by Region
- North America
- Europe
- Asia Pacific
- Latin America
- Middle East and Africa
Key Industry Players in the Global Helium Market
The report presents a detailed overview of the top helium companies in the market, looking into their capacity, and latest developments like capacity expansions, plant turnarounds, and mergers and acquisitions:- Air Liquide
- Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
- Exxon Mobil Corporation
- Gazprom
- Gulf Cryo
- Iwatani Corporation
- Linde PLC
- TOTAL HELIUM LTD
- Messer SE & Co. KGaA
- Acail Group
- Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
- HeliumOne
- Others
Table of Contents
1 Executive Summary
2 Market Overview and Stakeholder Insights
3 Economic Summary
4 Country Risk Profiles
5 Global Helium Market Analysis
6 North America Helium Market Analysis
7 Europe Helium Market Analysis
8 Asia Pacific Helium Market Analysis
9 Latin America Helium Market Analysis
10 Middle East and Africa Helium Market Analysis
11 Market Dynamics
13 Competitive Landscape
Companies Mentioned
- Air Liquide
- Air Products and Chemicals Inc.
- Exxon Mobil Corporation
- Gazprom
- Gulf Cryo
- Iwatani Corporation
- Linde PLC
- TOTAL HELIUM LTD
- Messer SE & Co. KGaA
- Acail Group
- Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
- HeliumOne
Table Information
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| No. of Pages | 153 |
| Published | July 2025 |
| Regions Covered | Global |
| No. of Companies Mentioned | 12 |
