Helium Market Size
| Study Period | 2019 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| CAGR (2024 - 2029) | 3.02 % |
| Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
| Largest Market | Europe |
| Market Concentration | High |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Helium Market Analysis
The Helium Market size is estimated at 184.59 Million cubic meters in 2024, and is expected to reach 214.21 Million cubic meters by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 3.02% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
Due to COVID-19, the aerospace industry was severely affected, resulting in the contraction of the aerospace industry in recent times, negatively affecting the growth prospects of helium in aerospace applications. However, it recovered significantly in 2021, owing to rising consumption from various end-use applications, including healthcare.
- The increasing consumption of helium across the semiconductor industry and growing utilization of helium across the aviation industry are major factors driving the growth of the market studied.
- On the flip side, the high cost of the extraction process and the inconsistent supply of helium are likely to hinder the growth of the market studied.
- Nevertheless, developments toward ending helium shortage 4.0 and increasing adoption of helium in pulmonary treatment are anticipated to provide numerous opportunities for the market studied during the forecast period.
- Europe is expected to dominate the market, and Asia-Pacific is likely to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
Helium Market Trends
Increasing Demand from the Healthcare Industry
- Helium has a wide range of uses in the healthcare industry. It can reach a temperature of -269 °C, making liquid helium the best option for cooling the magnets of MRI machines. Helium is also being used for breathing observation. It is an essential component in treating emphysema, asthma, and other conditions that affect breathing.
- Helium is usually used to treat lung diseases. Oxygen and helium are used together to treat acute and chronic respiratory ailments, as the combination reaches the lungs faster than all the others. There is no substitute for helium in cryogenic helium applications.
- As per the report of OECD, health expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) is highest in the United States (16.6%), followed by Germany (12.7%), France (11.9%), and Japan (11.5%).
- The demand for helium in the healthcare sector is increasing owing to the rising demand for MRI scans. MRI has also seen growing applications in cancer screening and neurology.
- Geographically, helium is predominantly used in the North American healthcare sector. The United States and Canada spend a major share of their GDP on healthcare.
- Also, Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the healthcare industry. This growth is fueled by public healthcare reforms and rapidly expanding medical tourism. The Chinese healthcare industry has been witnessing significant growth, registering a growth rate of more than 10% annually, followed by India.
- As of January 2024, according to the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, over 150 million patients underwent MRI examinations. Every year, approximately 10 million patients undergo MRI procedures.
- Furthermore, as per the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Japan has by far the highest number of MRI units and CT scanners per capita, followed by the United States for MRI units and Australia for CT scanners. Austria, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Korea, and Switzerland also have significantly more MRI and CT scanners per capita than the OECD average.
- In addition, global warming’s negative effects on air quality and the outbreak of COVID-19 exacerbated the rate of acute and chronic respiratory illnesses, prompting the need to increase the number of healthcare equipment specializing in respiratory care.
- Based on the factors mentioned above, the demand for helium from the healthcare industry is expected to grow over the forecast period.
Europe to Dominate the Market
- Europe is expected to dominate the market studied owing to the high demand from different sectors, such as healthcare, aerospace, electronics, and others.
- Germany has a long history of producing high-quality medical equipment, emphasizing precision instruments, diagnostic imaging, and optical technologies. The nation hosts the third-largest medical devices market in the world, after the United States and Japan, and the largest in Europe, comprising twice the size of the French market and three times as large as those of Italy, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
- Germany also focuses on the semiconductor industry, which is one of the main drivers of the market's growth in the country. It is estimated that around EUR 15.5 billion (USD 14.47 billion) has been invested annually in R&D for the development of innovative sensors and new-age technologies. Major electronic base companies are investing to expand their production capacity. For instance, in February 2023, Infineon Technologies AG, a global semiconductor leader, received the approval to begin work on a EUR 5 billion (USD 5.35 billion) semiconductor plant to meet the demand for power electronics in auto and mobile chips for 5G and industry chips and sensors, in Dresden. It is due to start production in 2026.
- The aerospace industry is the largest industrial sector in France, followed by the automotive industry. It has witnessed rapid growth in recent years and has become one of the largest aerospace industries in the world. France is one of the significant production and export hubs for aircraft components and systems in the global scenario. Furthermore, the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Space Association (ISpA) and the French Aerospace Industries Association GIFAS in October 2023 to enhance space cooperation between the two countries was likely to impact the helium market within the country positively.
- Also, in July 2022, a major research facility named the National Epitaxy Facility collaborated with the Universities of Sheffield, Cambridge, and University College London (UCL) to support the United Kingdom in becoming a world leader in semiconductor R&D. The country also launched a new cluster, named the Northeast Advanced Material Electronics (NEAME), to highlight and promote the country as a center of excellence for advanced compound semiconductor technology design and production.
- Due to all such factors, the European helium market is expected to witness steady growth during the forecast period.
Helium Industry Overview
The helium market is highly consolidated in nature. The major players in the market include (not in any particular order) Air Liquide, Linde PLC, Matheson Tri-Gas Inc., Iwatani Corporation, and Messer Group.
Helium Market Leaders
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Linde Plc
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Air Liquide
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Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
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ExxonMobil Corporation
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Iwatani Corporation
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Helium Market News
- July 2022: Helios Specialty Gases and Iwatani Corporation signed an agreement involving Iwatani, supplying liquid helium to Helious’s transfer facilities in Gujarat, Telangana, and Rajasthan.
- April 2022: Linde signed a long-term helium off-take agreement with Freeport LNG to recover the helium contained in Freeport LNG’s production site in Texas. Linde is expected to construct a new helium processing plant in Freeport to purify and liquefy the recovered helium. The project is anticipated to start in 2024 and provide nearly 200 million cubic feet of helium into Linde's supply portfolio.
Helium Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Study Assumptions
- 1.2 Scope of the Study
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET DYNAMICS
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4.1 Drivers
- 4.1.1 Increasing Consumption of Helium Across the Semiconductor Industry
- 4.1.2 Growing Utilization of Helium Across Aviation Industry
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4.2 Restraints
- 4.2.1 Expensive Extraction Process
- 4.2.2 Inconsistent Supply of Helium
- 4.3 Industry Value Chain Analysis
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4.4 Porter Five Forces
- 4.4.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers
- 4.4.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products and Services
- 4.4.5 Degree of Competition
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION (Market Size in Volume)
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5.1 Phase
- 5.1.1 Liquid
- 5.1.2 Gas
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5.2 Application
- 5.2.1 Breathing Mixes
- 5.2.2 Cryogenics
- 5.2.3 Leak Detection
- 5.2.4 Pressurizing and Purging
- 5.2.5 Welding
- 5.2.6 Controlled Atmosphere
- 5.2.7 Other Applications
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5.3 End-user Industry
- 5.3.1 Aerospace and Aircraft
- 5.3.2 Electronics and Semiconductors
- 5.3.3 Nuclear Power
- 5.3.4 Healthcare
- 5.3.5 Welding and Metal Fabrication
- 5.3.6 Other End-user Industries
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5.4 Geography
- 5.4.1 Production Analysis
- 5.4.1.1 United States
- 5.4.1.2 Qatar
- 5.4.1.3 Algeria
- 5.4.1.4 Australia
- 5.4.1.5 Poland
- 5.4.1.6 Russia
- 5.4.1.7 Other Countries
- 5.4.2 Consumption Analysis
- 5.4.2.1 Asia-Pacific
- 5.4.2.1.1 China
- 5.4.2.1.2 India
- 5.4.2.1.3 Japan
- 5.4.2.1.4 South Korea
- 5.4.2.1.5 Australia and New Zealand
- 5.4.2.1.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific
- 5.4.2.2 North America
- 5.4.2.2.1 United States
- 5.4.2.2.2 Canada
- 5.4.2.2.3 Mexico
- 5.4.2.3 Europe
- 5.4.2.3.1 Germany
- 5.4.2.3.2 France
- 5.4.2.3.3 Italy
- 5.4.2.3.4 United Kingdom
- 5.4.2.3.5 Russia
- 5.4.2.3.6 Rest of Europe
- 5.4.2.4 Rest of the World
- 5.4.2.4.1 South America
- 5.4.2.4.2 Middle East and Africa
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
- 6.2 Market Share (%) Analysis
- 6.3 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
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6.4 Company Profiles
- 6.4.1 Air Liquide
- 6.4.2 Air Products Inc.
- 6.4.3 Exxon Mobil Corporation
- 6.4.4 Gazprom
- 6.4.5 Gulf Cryo
- 6.4.6 Iwatani Corporation
- 6.4.7 Linde PLC
- 6.4.8 Matheson Tri-Gas Inc.
- 6.4.9 Messer Group GmbH
- 6.4.10 NexAir LLC
- 6.4.11 Pgnig Sa (Orlen)
- 6.4.12 Qatarenergy Lng
- 6.4.13 Renergen
- 6.4.14 Weil Group
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
- 7.1 Developments Toward Ending Helium Shortage 4.0
- 7.2 Increasing Adoption of Helium In Pulmonary Treatment
Helium Industry Segmentaion
Helium is a chemical element with the symbol He. It is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas and is the second lightest and most abundant element in the universe. It is a non-renewable resource, and its supply is limited. Helium has several important applications in cryogenics and superconductivity, balloons and airships, welding and leak detection, breathing mixtures, aerospace and rockets, nuclear energy research, etc.
The helium market is segmented by phase, application, end-user industry, and geography. By phase, the market is segmented into liquid and gas. By application, the market is segmented into breathing mixes, cryogenics, leak detection, pressurizing and purging, welding, controlled atmosphere, and other applications. By end-user industry, the market is segmented into aerospace and aircraft, electronics and semiconductors, nuclear power, healthcare, welding and metal fabrication, and other end-user industries. By geography, the market is segmented into Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World). The report also covers the market sizes and forecasts for the helium market in 14 countries across the major regions. For each segment, the market sizes and forecasts are provided based on volume (cubic feet).
| Phase | Liquid | ||
| Gas | |||
| Application | Breathing Mixes | ||
| Cryogenics | |||
| Leak Detection | |||
| Pressurizing and Purging | |||
| Welding | |||
| Controlled Atmosphere | |||
| Other Applications | |||
| End-user Industry | Aerospace and Aircraft | ||
| Electronics and Semiconductors | |||
| Nuclear Power | |||
| Healthcare | |||
| Welding and Metal Fabrication | |||
| Other End-user Industries | |||
| Geography | Production Analysis | United States | |
| Qatar | |||
| Algeria | |||
| Australia | |||
| Poland | |||
| Russia | |||
| Other Countries | |||
| Geography | Consumption Analysis | Asia-Pacific | China |
| India | |||
| Japan | |||
| South Korea | |||
| Australia and New Zealand | |||
| Rest of Asia-Pacific | |||
| Geography | Consumption Analysis | North America | United States |
| Canada | |||
| Mexico | |||
| Geography | Consumption Analysis | Europe | Germany |
| France | |||
| Italy | |||
| United Kingdom | |||
| Russia | |||
| Rest of Europe | |||
| Geography | Consumption Analysis | Rest of the World | South America |
| Middle East and Africa |
Helium Market Research FAQs
How big is the Helium Market?
The Helium Market size is expected to reach 6.51 billion Cubic Feet in 2024 and grow at a CAGR of 3.02% to reach 7.56 billion Cubic Feet by 2029.
What is the current Helium Market size?
In 2024, the Helium Market size is expected to reach 6.51 billion Cubic Feet.
Who are the key players in Helium Market?
Linde Plc, Air Liquide, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., ExxonMobil Corporation and Iwatani Corporation are the major companies operating in the Helium Market.
Which is the fastest growing region in Helium Market?
Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024-2029).
Which region has the biggest share in Helium Market?
In 2024, the Europe accounts for the largest market share in Helium Market.
What years does this Helium Market cover, and what was the market size in 2023?
In 2023, the Helium Market size was estimated at 6.31 billion Cubic Feet. The report covers the Helium Market historical market size for years: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Helium Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
What are the major end-use industries for Helium Market?
The major end-use industries for Helium Market include a) Aerospace and Defense b) Medical and Healthcare c) Electronics and Electrical d) Nuclear Power and Metal Fabrication
Helium Industry Report
The helium market is experiencing significant growth across various segments, driven by diverse applications in industries such as healthcare, electronics, aerospace, and more. Notably, the medical sector benefits from helium's unique properties essential for MRI machines and respiratory treatments, while the electronics industry utilizes it in semiconductor manufacturing. This demand is particularly strong in Asia-Pacific, known for its robust electronics production capabilities. Helium is used in both liquid and gas forms, with the cryogenics application dominating due to its ability to reach extremely low temperatures, vital for various scientific and industrial processes. Geographically, North America is a key player with substantial helium resources, alongside Europe and Asia-Pacific which also demonstrate strong market presence and growth potential. The market's expansion is supported by major helium companies and producers investing heavily to meet global demand, driven by technological advancements and increasing sector needs. For detailed statistics, market share, size, and revenue growth insights, Mordor Intelligence™ provides comprehensive industry reports with forecasts and historical overviews, available for free sample download as a PDF.
