Helium is a noble gas that occurs in the earth's crust and can be found in small concentrations in natural gas deposits.

Main Sources of Global Helium Production

Global helium production is highly concentrated. The USA and Qatar alone will supply over 75% of global production (by 2025).

• USA: 81 million m³/year

• Qatar: 63 million m³/year

• Russia: 18 million m³/year

• Algeria: 11 million m³/year

• Canada: 6 million m³/year

• China & Poland: 3 million m³/year each

Why the Iran war is driving up helium prices

1. Qatar has stopped helium production

Iranian attacks on LNG facilities in Ras Laffan have forced Qatar to halt production. Repairs could take years.

2. Strait of Hormuz is blocked

The strait, through which a large portion of helium exports are shipped, has been blocked (since March 2026). This has resulted in a further loss of transport capacity.

3. Spot prices have already skyrocketed

According to estimates, short-term helium prices have risen by 40–100% – in some cases within a single week (March 2026).

Price development over the medium term (months to 1 year)

• If the conflict continues, up to a third of global production will be missing from the market.

• This leads to persistently high prices, even if other countries (USA, Algeria) were to supply more.

However, the switch to hydrogen as a GC-MS carrier gas requires a complete revision of the existing method due to the changed viscosity. Losses in sensitivity are also noted, especially with weaker pump systems (smaller turbo pumps, diffusion pumps). Due to safety concerns related to the flammability of hydrogen, installing a hydrogen sensor in the gas chromatograph oven chamber is highly recommended.

In order to reduce the consumption of helium, CHROMTECH has developed the Helium EcoSaver option for GC and GC-MS systems. When using this system, helium is only consumed when it is actually needed, i.e. during a sample sequence. After a sample sequence the carrier gas supply is automatically switched to another gas, e.g. B. nitrogen. The switch back to acquisition mode with helium occurs either automatically, by starting a sequence, or manually by pressing the button on the Helium EcoSaver. In both cases, after the gas changeover, a flushing time specified by the user expires, during which residues of nitrogen are flushed out of the chromatographic system. After that time the sample sequence will start.