Top 10 Companies Dominating the Global Helium Market, Driven by its Increasing Use in Several Industries

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, and HeliumOne, among others are the major players in the global helium market.

The global helium market reached a volume of about 6,734.00 MMCF in 2023. The market is further estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% in the forecast period of 2024-2032 to reach a volume of around 9,257.87 MMCF by 2032. As per the analysis by Expert Market Research, the market is driven by the diverse applications that helium serves across multiple end-use industries such as healthcare, semiconductor manufacturing and applications in aerospace, among others.

U.S. EXPORTS OF HELIUM BY COUNTRY (Thousand Dollars)

Helium is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic chemical element with atomic number 2. It is a noble gas which is not reactive and has the lowest boiling point among all the elements. The primary factors propelling the helium market growth are the growing applications of liquid helium and cryogenics in MRI scanners, as well as the development of the healthcare industry. Helium finds frequent applications in the following areas too: cryogenics, breathing mixtures, leak detection, controlled atmospheres, welding, pressurizing and purging, and other operations. Applications for the chemical also include semiconductors, welding, metalworking, nuclear power, electronics, and electronic gadgets.

Additionally, helium is frequently utilized to promote for various businesses on blimps. The defense forces are developing further uses for lifting gas to identify cruise missiles that are flying at low altitude. Liquid helium is used by military submarine detectors to reduce noise in their transmissions. This is accelerating the helium market expansion.

In June 2024, Helium One Global Ltd raised GBP 8 million through the issue of new shares. The investment will go toward financing Helium One's operations in the Rukwa rift basin during their development phase. Also, in April 2024, Pulsar Helium Inc., a company dedicated to the production and exploration of helium announced plans to ramp up production in United States and Greenland plants to alleviate the global shortage.

Top 10 Helium Companies in the World:

Air Liquide

Air Liquide deals in gases and technologies in gases such as oxygen, helium, nitrogen and hydrogen. With a presence in over 72 countries and over 68000 employees, the company serve more than 4 million individuals across the globe. The company recorded a revenue of EUR 27.5 billion in 2023 and with its strategic plan ‘ADVANCE’ for 2025, the company aspires to improve its performance in the global arena.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc.

Air Products is a company that engages in the development, engineering, construction, ownership, and operation of major industrial gas projects globally. These projects include gasification projects, which aim to produce syngas—a high-value fuel, power, and chemical—by sustainably converting abundant natural resources. In the fiscal year 2023, Air Products and Chemicals Inc. recorded sales of USD 12.6 billion, from its operations in close to 50 countries across the world. The company supplies essential industrial gases, equipment, and application expertise in industries like chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, and food.

Exxon Mobil Corporation

Exxon Mobil Corporation has over 62,000 researchers, technicians, scientists, engineers, and other employees working in more than 60 countries. The primary businesses of the company entails providing lubricants, chemicals, energy, and lower-emissions technologies to clients. The company states that its LaBarge facility in Wyoming serves close to 20% of the world's helium supply for industries like healthcare and technology.

Gazprom

Gazprom Group specialises in the acquisition and production of oils and gases in friendly countries and through its subsidiaries the company owns 14 petroleum assets in 8 countries including projects in Algeria, Libya, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, and Bolivia. As of February 2024, Gazprom began the transportation of liquid helium and LNG to China. Amur Gas processing plant which is a Gazprom enterprise shipped 470 tons of liquid helium to foreign clients in September 2023.

Gulf Cryo

Boasting 70 years in the business, Gulf Cryo is a leader in the gas manufacturing and distribution industry in the Middle East, offering specialised solutions to clients in healthcare for MRI scans, metal fabrication, electronics, and manufacturing. The company has a presence in over 10 countries worldwide and with a workforce of 1200 individuals it supplies liquid helium in tube trailers and cylinders.

Iwatani Corporation

Iwatani Corporation was founded in 1930 and incorporated in 1945 and has ever since provided products and services for consumers for daily use and in the industrial sector. The company handles a wide variety of industrial gases ranging from argon, oxygen and nitrogen to hydrogen and helium for which it has safe and reliable supply chain networks established. As of May 2022, Iwatani claimed to be the number one supplier of helium in Japan.

Linde PLC

Linde PLC is a global leader in industrial gases and engineering which recorded sales of USD 33 billion in 2023. The company provides technological solutions in various applications including carbon capture systems and clean hydrogen production. Linde operates one of the world's largest helium production plants in Ulysses, Kansas and has over 50 helium facilities around the globe where liquid helium is repackaged into tube trailers, regular cylinders, portable cylinders, or multi-cylinder packs (MCPs).

Messer SE & Co. KGaA

With consolidated sales of over EUR 4.4 billion in 2023, Messer SE & Co. KGaA is one of the world’s largest privately owned companies that specializes in medical, industrial, and specialty gases. With an international workforce that spans 11,500 highly qualified individuals, the company is focused on enhancing sustainability.

Acail Group

Acail Gás was established in 1996 as part of the bigger Acail Group as a company that focuses on the production of high-pressure gases. The company is dedicated to meeting the needs of consumers in different industries through the efficient production of helium among other gases which is used heavily in the healthcare, electronics, aerospace, manufacturing, and other sectors.

HeliumOne

HeliumOne is hailed as a high-grade, primary helium project that has a major presence in Tanzania and has licences for 3 distinct project areas spanning 2,840 KM square. Helium is a high-value commodity which sees applications in a multitude of end-use industries such as space exploration, data centres and quantum computing, electronics, energy, and industrial usages such as leak testing.