Helium and rare gases
World helium production and reserves, 2024–2025
Share of world helium production, 2025 · world total 190 million cubic meters
- United States 43%
- Qatar 33%
- Russia 9.5%
- Algeria 5.8%
- Canada 3.2%
- China 1.6%
- Poland 1.6%
- Other countries 2.6%
The United States accounted for 43% of world helium production in 2025 (81 million cubic meters of 190 million cubic meters). The United States was a net exporter of helium in 2025. U.S. imports of helium and rare gases (neon, million liters) rose from 60 million cubic meters in 2021 to 120 million cubic meters in 2025. World output rose 3.8% from 2024 to 2025.
Producer log
8 countries listed separately
| Country | Helium production 2024 | Helium production 2025 | Share of world 2025 | Change on 2024 | Helium reserves |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 80 | 81 | 43% | +1.2% | 8,500 |
| Qatar | 64 | 63 | 33% | −1.6% | large |
| Russia | 17 | 18 | 9.5% | +5.9% | 1,700 |
| Algeria | 11 | 11 | 5.8% | 0% | 1,800 |
| Canada | 6 | 6 | 3.2% | 0% | not available |
| China | 3 | 3 | 1.6% | 0% | not available |
| Poland | 3 | 3 | 1.6% | 0% | 24 |
| South Africa | 0 | in “other” | 400 | ||
| World total | 183 | 190 | 100% | +3.8% | not available |
United States
supply, trade and import sources
Net exporter
Net import reliance (helium) in 2025, as a percentage of apparent consumption. “E” marks years when the United States exported more than it imported.
2021E
2022E
2023E
2024E
2025E
Import sources of helium, 2021–24
- Canada 47%
- Qatar 28%
- Algeria 10%
- China 5%
- Other countries 10%
| Item | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold or Used: Grade-A and gaseous helium | 76 | 77 | 81 | 80 | 81 |
| Sold or Used: Neon, million liters | 120 | 120 | 120 | 112 | 110 |
| Sold or Used: Argon | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,040 | 1,100 |
| Sold or Used: Krypton, million liters | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Sold or Used: Xenon, million liters | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| Imports for consumption: Helium | 8 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
| Imports for consumption: Neon, million liters | 60 | 75 | 95 | 113 | 120 |
| Imports for consumption: Argon | 32 | 29 | 36 | 40 | 35 |
| Imports for consumption: Krypton, million liters | 17 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| Imports for consumption: Xenon, million liters | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4 | 4 |
| Exports: Helium | 33 | 34 | 34 | 41 | 38 |
| Exports: Neon, krypton, and xenon, million liters | — | — | — | — | — |
| Exports: Argon | 23 | 22 | 38 | 41 | 60 |
| Consumption, apparent: Grade-A and gaseous helium | 51 | 50 | 56 | 51 | 51 |
| Consumption, apparent: Neon, million liters | 180 | 190 | 210 | 225 | 230 |
| Consumption, apparent: Argon | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | 1,040 | 1,100 |
| Consumption, apparent: Krypton, million liters | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 |
| Consumption, apparent: Xenon, million liters | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.1 |
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Neon | 33 | 39 | 45 | 50 | 52 |
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Argon | 1 | 1 | net exporter | net exporter | net exporter |
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Krypton | 91 | 92 | 93 | 93 | 93 |
| Net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption: Xenon | 97 | 97 | 98 | 98 | 98 |
Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Helium and rare gases chapter (PDF page 104). How to read these figures.