Chemicals Industry Today

Helium Market Outlook to 2031: LNG‑linked supply, tech demand, and resilience strategies

The helium market is at a pivotal juncture as LNG‑linked supply expansions intersect with critical demand from MRI, semiconductor fabs, aerospace, and research, pushing buyers toward resilient sourcing and recycling strategies through 2031
Published 21 November 2025

According to The Insight Partners, Global Helium Market size is projected to reach US$ 7.25 billion by 2031 from US$ 4.62 billion in 2023. The market is expected to register a CAGR of 5.8% during 2023–2031. Primary helium production and helium recycling are likely to emerge as new market trends during the forecast period.

The helium market is at a pivotal moment as healthcare, electronics, aerospace, and research applications intensify demand for ultra‑pure helium while suppliers expand capacity through LNG‑integrated projects and targeted brownfield upgrades. End users are diversifying sources, deploying recovery systems, and re‑writing contracts to mitigate volatility tied to geopolitical exposure and project timelines.

Figure out what’s there in this deal| Get a glimpse through a sample at - https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00004510

Industry observers highlight a mixed near‑term picture: while some forecasts point to a supply surplus as new trains ramp up, recurring disruptions and logistics sensitivities continue to challenge availability, pricing, and allocation—pressuring procurement and planning through 2026. Strategic deals, especially out of Qatar’s North Field, are reshaping the long‑term landscape with multi‑year commitments and market‑stabilizing volumes.

Updated market news

  • Global viewpoints diverge: analyses suggest a possible supply surplus as new sources come online, yet other assessments cite persistent tightness due to project delays, sanctions, and logistics—keeping risk premiums elevated for certain grades and regions.
  • Long‑term contracts: QatarEnergy’s expanded helium outlook and long‑term agreements underscore a shift toward durable supply partnerships as the Federal Helium Reserve recedes and Russian capacity faces delays.
  • Price and capacity signals: Commentary throughout 2025 alternates between softening due to incremental supply and spikes tied to disruption risk, prompting end users to expand on‑site recovery and redundancy.

What’s driving demand

  • Healthcare: MRI systems rely on helium’s cryogenic properties for superconducting magnets, making reliable, ultra‑pure supply central to hospital uptime and maintenance cycles.
  • Semiconductors and electronics: Advanced node manufacturing and leak‑testing require consistent, high‑purity helium; fab expansions in Asia amplify regional consumption and supply‑chain scrutiny.
  • Aerospace and research: Launch operations, space hardware testing, and quantum and low‑temperature physics use helium for purging, cooling, and controlled environments, reinforcing critical‑material status.

Global and regional analysis

  • North America: Transition away from the historic Federal Helium Reserve framework compels a more commercially driven market structure, with private producers and recycling investments offsetting legacy declines.
  • Europe: Exposure to Russian flows and Eastern European logistics keeps supply‑security high on the agenda, while recycling and contractual hedges gain traction in research and fab clusters.
  • Asia‑Pacific: Demand centers in China, Japan, and South Korea expand with semiconductor and electronics growth, supported by LNG‑linked imports and a push to diversify shipping routes.
  • Middle East and Africa: Qatar’s North Field expansions and associated liquefaction underpin multi‑decade supply narratives; emerging African sources and logistics corridors add optionality.

Competitive dynamics

  • Integrated LNG value chains: Helium recovery tied to LNG projects offers scale, but interruptions in gas processing or shipping ripple directly into helium availability.
  • Contracting evolution: Take‑or‑pay, indexing mechanisms, and multi‑year off‑takes are central to risk management as buyers prioritize assured volumes and quality continuity.
  • Technology responses: Recovery, reuse, and efficiency upgrades help critical users stabilize costs and supply, reducing exposure to spot volatility and transport constraints.

Market themes and opportunities

  • Resilience engineering: On‑site liquefiers, reclamation, and storage strategies are moving from optional to standard for high‑dependency users, improving security of supply.
  • Portfolio diversification: Multi‑origin sourcing and staged deliveries hedge against geopolitical and project‑specific risks, especially for specialized grades.
  • Strategic partnerships: Early engagement with LNG‑linked producers and midstream partners supports predictable allocations during maintenance, ramp‑ups, or route disruptions.

Challenges to watch

  • Project timing and geopolitics: Sanctions, construction delays, and shipping chokepoints can quickly shift regional balances and spot availability, even amid nominal capacity growth.
  • Grade assurance: Tight specs for semiconductor and cryogenic uses necessitate robust QA, redundancy, and qualified alternates to avoid downtime.

By 2031: key bullets

Market size: Expands steadily through 2031 as healthcare, semiconductor, and aerospace demand deepen, supported by LNG‑integrated recovery and incremental new sources.

  • Market share: LNG‑linked suppliers consolidate influence via long‑term contracts, while regional distributors gain share by offering recycling, storage, and service bundles.
  • Trends: Growth in MRI deployments, advanced fabs, space activity, and quantum research; rising adoption of recovery systems and diversified logistics.
  • Analysis: Supply can appear ample on paper, yet disruption sensitivity persists; buyers with dual‑source strategies and onsite resilience outperform on cost and uptime.
  • Forecast: Stable, multi‑sector growth to 2031 with periodic tightness around maintenance cycles and geopolitical events; APAC leads demand, Middle East anchors supply.

This release is written for procurement leaders, clinical engineering teams, fab operations, and strategy executives who need a practical read on the helium market, balancing on‑the‑ground supply tactics with long‑range contracts and infrastructure planning. Near‑term risk management should center on recycling, diversified contracting, and route flexibility, while long‑term strategies align with LNG expansions and regional demand nodes.

Get Premium Research Report Market Size and Growth Report at: https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00004510

About Us:

The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We specialize in industries such as Semiconductor and Electronics, Aerospace and Defense, Automotive and Transportation, Biotechnology, Healthcare IT, Manufacturing and Construction, Medical Device, Technology, Media and Telecommunications, Chemicals and Materials.

Contact Us: If you have any queries about this report or if you would like further information, please contact us:

  • Contact Person: Ankit Mathur
  • E-mail: sales@theinsightpartners.com
  • Phone: +1-646-491-9876

Also Available in : Korean | German | Japanese | French | Chinese | Italian | Spanish

Other Industry News

Ready to start publishing

Sign Up today!