The two-year helium shortage has officially ended, but the market’s stability remains in question amidst ongoing supply uncertainties.
“Helium Shortage 4.0 is over. It’s not ‘maybe it’s over,’ it’s over,” declared Phil Kornbluth of Kornbluth Helium Consulting, at gasworld’s European Specialty Gas Summit 2024.
As of early 2024, helium supply has surged, making it easier to secure new stocks. Gazprom has boosted the global supply by adding around 50 11,000-gallon containers per month, a 10% increase. Major helium suppliers have also ended their allocations.
Kornbluth notes that while helium demand for semiconductor manufacturing is beginning to recover, it remains below 2022 levels. “There is oversupply in some markets, especially in China, where an influx of cheap supply from Russia and weak electronics demand has created a chaotic market,” he said. Despite being the second-largest market, China is currently the least profitable.
... to continue reading you must be subscribed
