Formation
Helium is created by natural radioactive decay of elements in rock.
Origin & marketHelium starts
Helium starts
deep under
the ground.
The helium in a cylinder has travelled a long way: from geological formation and extraction to purification, liquid transport and distribution.
Accumulation
The gas migrates upwards and can become trapped beneath sealing rock layers.
Extraction
It is usually separated from natural gas. Primary helium fields also exist without commercial hydrocarbons.
Delivery
After purification and possible liquid transport, helium is supplied in cylinders and bundles.
World mapProduction, projects
Production, projects
and strategic storage.
Select a location for its current status. The map shows key regions and projects.
ProductionDevelopmentStorage / infrastructureLogistics / trade restriction
United States & Canada
An established production region that continues to grow.
The United States remained one of the largest producers in 2025. USGS reported six new helium operations, while Canada also commissioned a new facility.
Source status: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026Poland · Odolanów
An active European production chain.
Poland recovers helium from natural-gas fields in the Polish Lowlands. The Odolanów facility produced 2.72 million m³ of pure helium in 2025.
Source status: Polish Geological Institute, 2025 dataGermany · Epe & Brimir
Strategic storage alongside new exploration.
Air Liquide has operated underground pure-helium storage at Gronau-Epe since 2016. Work on the Brimir drilling platform for a new deep exploration well progressed in 2026.
Source status: Air Liquide and 45-8 EnergyAlgeria
Helium as a natural-gas by-product.
USGS estimated Algerian helium production at around 11 million m³ in 2024. Production is linked to natural-gas processing and exports.
Source status: USGS Algeria country report 2024Qatar · Ras Laffan
One of the world’s largest sources.
Qatar produces helium as a by-product of natural gas from the North Field. USGS estimated its 2024 share at roughly 35% of world production.
Source status: USGS Qatar country report 2024Russia · Amur & Orenburg
Large capacity with restricted access for Europe.
Russia was the world’s third-largest helium producer in 2024 according to USGS. Amur is designed for up to 60 million m³ annually. The EU prohibits Russian helium imports and Russian exports have required government approval since April 2026.
Source status: USGS Russia 2024; EU Regulation 2024/1745; Russian Decree No. 404China · imports & transit
A major market and logistics link with restricted exports.
China is a net importer and was the main buyer of Russian helium at the end of 2024. A temporary Chinese export suspension has applied since 10 July 2026 to protect domestic supply.
Source status: USGS Russia 2024; Chinese Ministry of Commerce, July 2026Tanzania · Rukwa Basin
Primary-helium projects in development.
Itumbula West-1 flowed 5.5% helium continuously to surface during a 2024 test. The project is under assessment and development; Upepo is working towards exploration drilling.
Source status: Helium One and Rift HeliumSouth Africa · Virginia Gas Project
New liquid-helium capacity is moving closer.
The liquid-helium plant entered commissioning in August 2026 and could broaden the geographical distribution of global production.
Source status: ASP Isotopes / Tetra4, August 2026Market overview
What is happening now?
Updated
2 October 2026
Production remains highly concentrated.
The United States and Qatar remain central. New capacity in North America and South Africa may broaden the source mix.
Russian exports require approval.
Russia placed helium under a temporary export restriction until the end of 2027; an EU import prohibition also applies.
China temporarily halts exports.
The measure protects domestic availability and mainly affects exports or further transit from China.
Virginia enters commissioning.
The South African liquid-helium plant reached commissioning, with scale-up dependent on successful completion.
Production, storage and exploration.
Poland produces helium, Germany has strategic storage and projects such as Brimir are examining local sources.
Rukwa moves towards development.
Itumbula is advancing technically and through permitting while Upepo remains earlier in exploration.
Sources: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026 and country reports; Council of the EU and Regulation (EU) 2024/1745; Chinese Ministry of Commerce; Russian Decree No. 404; Polish Geological Institute; Helium One; Rift Helium; 45-8 Energy; Air Liquide; ASP Isotopes/Tetra4. Project schedules and trade measures may change.
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