Helium

Follow HeliumAlerts when its risks move. Free.

South Korea: 65%Source [1] of its helium imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz (2025), the largest share of one country on file.

This page answers: Who supplies whom with this good, which straits does it pass, and who runs short first?

Using this page
  1. Read the short version: who supplies whom, the straits it passes and who runs short first.
  2. Tap a country for its page, or a strait for its page.
  3. Choose Full analyst view for the flow ledger, the sources and the method.
Link to this page

Supply balance

Exhibit S-1 · Supply balance
How much each country makes, buys and sells
Consumption = production + imports − exports (± stock change).
Reading the supply balance

Supply balance first, suppliers second.

Each card shows the latest complete period: the newest with consumption and at least one of production, imports and exports on file. The table also keeps the newest period where it is partial.

Shown in million cubic metres.

Shown first: the two largest net importers and the two largest net exporters on file, latest complete period.

China

2024 · million m3NET IMPORTER
Production3 million m3
Imports22.4 million m3
Exportsnot on file
Consumption27.1 million m3
Net import dependence
88.9% Low confidence estimate
Via a strait, share of use
not on file
Stocks cover
not on file

In 2024, China imported 22.4 million m3 and produced 3 million m3. Net imports met 88.9% of its use. Its exports is not on file.

Low confidence estimate Source: China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center

United States

2025 · million m3NET EXPORTER
Production81 million m3
Imports8 million m3
Exports38 million m3
Consumption51 million m3Apparent consumption as the source publishes it
Net import dependence
none (net producer) estimate
Via a strait, share of use
not on file
Stocks cover
not on file

In 2025, the United States produced 81 million m3 and used 51 million m3. It exported 38 million m3 and imported 8 million m3.

estimate Source: U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center

SourceChina Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center (USGS-authored data are U.S. public domain; ScienceBase marks the release CC0 1.0. Credit USGS.).Reading this plateEach bar is one figure in the row's own unit, scaled to the largest of the four. A hollow bar is worked out from the other three, not reported. The accent marks the selected country.
Exhibit S-1 · Helium · strature.net
Exhibit S-2 · Map
Helium: net import dependence, country by country
Helium · Colour: net import dependence, latest complete period on file. Tap a country for its balance.
Skip the map

The map needs JavaScript. Every country is in the table below.

Colour: net import dependence, latest complete period on file. Tap a country for its balance.

SourceChina Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center (USGS-authored data are U.S. public domain; ScienceBase marks the release CC0 1.0. Credit USGS.); Statistics Canada (Statistics Canada Open Licence: commercial and non-commercial use with credit.); Jiemian Global (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Eurostat Comext (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); INDEC (Instituto Nacional de Estadistica y Censos) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); Eurostat (CC BY 4.0; commercial reuse allowed with source credit.); Ministry of Finance Japan / e-Stat (Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0, compatible with CC BY 4.0.).
Exhibit S-2 · Helium · strature.net
Exhibit S-3 · Over time
China: production, trade and use over time
Hover, tap or focus a point for its value, period, grade and source.

Helium · million cubic metres

01020304020202021202320242025Production · 2020: 1 million m3 · High confidence · Source: U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterProduction · 2021: 1 million m3 · Medium confidence · estimate · Source: U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterProduction · 2023: 2 million m3 · Medium confidence · Source: China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterProduction · 2024: 3 million m3 · Low confidence · estimate · Source: China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterProduction · 2025: 3 million m3 · Medium confidence · estimate · Source: U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterImports · 2023: 23.1 million m3 · Medium confidence · Source: China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterImports · 2024: 22.4 million m3 · Low confidence · estimate · Source: China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterConsumption · 2024: 27.1 million m3 · Low confidence · estimate · Source: China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information CenterProductionImportsConsumption
SourceU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center (USGS-authored data are U.S. public domain; ScienceBase marks the release CC0 1.0. Credit USGS.); China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named).
Exhibit S-3 · Helium · strature.net
Exhibit S-4 · Every figure
Every figure, as a table
Every figure: the latest complete period per country, and the newest where it is partial. Scroll sideways inside the table on a phone.
CountryPeriodProductionImportsExportsConsumptionNet import dependenceGradeSource
Algeria202511 million m3 estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
Australia20231 million m3 estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
Canada20256 million m3 estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
China20243 million m3 Low confidence estimate22.4 million m3 Low confidence estimatenot on file27.1 million m3 Low confidence estimate88.9% Low confidence estimateLow confidence estimateChina Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute); U.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
China20253 million m3 estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
Poland20253 million m3 estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
Qatar202563 million m3 estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
Russia202518 million m3 estimatenot on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
South Africa20240 million m3not on filenot on filenot on filenot on fileHigh confidenceU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center
United States202581 million m3 estimate8 million m3 estimate38 million m3 estimate51 million m3 estimate-58.8% estimateMedium confidence estimateU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center

Marks: Low confidence (a less certain source, shown with its source) and estimate (the source's own estimate). Not on file: no figure published.

Download CSV

The CSV leaves out 2 rows. Their sources (China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute)) allow their figures to be cited, not passed on. They are in the table with their source.

SourceU.S. Geological Survey, National Minerals Information Center (USGS-authored data are U.S. public domain; ScienceBase marks the release CC0 1.0. Credit USGS.); China Mining Magazine (authors: Information Center, Ministry of Natural Resources) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named); China Mining Magazine (authors: CNPC Planning and Engineering Institute) (Cited figure; credit the publisher named).
Exhibit S-4 · Helium · strature.net

Who buys, who sells

Buyers on file and their suppliers

  1. EU (27)
  2. France inside the EU (27) figure, never added to it
  3. Germany inside the EU (27) figure, never added to it
  4. China
    • Qatar share not on file
  5. Japan
    • Qatar share not on file
  6. South Korea
    • Qatar share not on file
  7. Taiwan
    • Qatar share not on file

6 of 7 buyers on file, most suppliers first; every flow is in the flow ledger. Each share is the supplier’s share of that buyer’s imports of this good, as published (one unit, per cent); shares are never added. The EU (27) is a bloc, on the switch, never added to its members. Records whose every figure is zero stay in the ledger only.

Suppliers on file

  1. Qatar 6 buyers on file
  2. China 3 buyers on file

Suppliers by the number of buyers on file (countries; the EU (27) not counted). A count of records, not a measure of volume.

Straits it passes

Counts are counts of flow records (records whose every figure is zero left out). Routes are modelled main routes, not ship tracks; a share is shown only where a source gives it.

If a strait closes

Who runs short first

Case: Strait of Hormuz closed, restricted or unsafe. For each country, the day on file when its supply shortfall begins for this good, or, where nothing runs short, when its late-arrival gap begins.

3 of the 3 countries on file for this good reach a supply shortfall in this case; the first to run short are listed first.

  1. EU (27) supply shortfall begins: day 19

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

  2. France supply shortfall begins: day 19

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

    Inside the EU (27) figure: shown, never added to it or to a total
  3. Germany supply shortfall begins: day 19

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

    Inside the EU (27) figure: shown, never added to it or to a total
  4. Japan supply shortfall begins: day 20

    first day with cargo lost (no stock record on file)

Days as on file in the precomputed case “Strait of Hormuz closed for 30 days” (Strature network pack, the network map’s default settings). Day 0 is the first day of the closure; the shaded part of each line is the closure (30 days); each line runs to day 120.

Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

Forecast register

Related forecasts in our register

Nearest related forecast; not about this good alone.

In the register’s exact words, each with our estimate, scored when it resolves.

  • F-0074 · A renewed US or Israeli strike on Iran, 22 Aug-20 Nov 2026 · 61%, our estimate, scored when it resolves · resolves by 20 Nov 2026 · Open · brief S-001

The full forecast register

Note, : US Central Command reported strikes on Iranian territory on 30 Aug and 1 Sep 2026; this question resolves on 20 Nov under its rules.

Full analyst view

The flow ledger

Every flow on file
Supplier → buyerYearBasisShare of the buyer’s importsVolumeStraits on the modelled routeConfidence
Qatar → China2025cited––Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca–
China → EU (27)2025observed7.604%Source [2]7,139 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Qatar → EU (27)2025observed36.41%Source [2]2,083 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
United Arab Emirates → EU (27)2025observed1.274%Source [2]48.59 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
China → France2025observed2.569%Source [2]433.2 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Qatar → France2025observed6.76%Source [2]69.02 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
China → Germany2025observed9.317%Source [2]83.74 t/yrSource [2]Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh
Qatar → Germany2025observed52.05%Source [2]282.1 t/yrSource [2]Strait of Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canalhigh
Qatar → Japan2025observed–398.8 t/yrSource [6]Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malaccahigh
Qatar → South Korea2025cited––Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca–
Qatar → Taiwan2025cited––Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca–
China → United Kingdom2025cited36.4%Source [7]–Bab el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, Strait of Malaccahigh

Basis: observed (reported by the buyer), mirror (reported by the supplier) or cited (a published figure). Volumes are shown in the one unit the pack uses for this good and are never added. Rows to the EU (27) show on the switch.

Supplier concentration

No supplier concentration index on file for this good. The flow ledger lists the suppliers on file.

Scenario cases

  • Strait of Hormuz closed, restricted or unsafe

    In short In a 30-day closure some oil never arrives at all: of the economies shown, China loses the most, 310-317 million barrels. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

  • Red Sea: half of traffic avoids Bab el-Mandeb for 90 days

    In short Going round the Cape for 90 days loses nothing on lanes with a cited Cape route: 55 million barrels of the economies shown arrive late, most of it the EU's. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

  • Strait of Malacca closed for 14 days

    In short Closing the Strait of Malacca causes delay, not loss: ships go by Lombok and Makassar, about 3 days longer. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; not a forecast; not advice. Illustrative arithmetic on stated assumptions; it does not say whether, when or for how long a strait will close.

Briefs

  • S-001 Iran and the Strait of Hormuz: a scenario brief

Method

Every figure on this page carries its source, its year and a link; figures from 2023 or older carry an amber mark. The flows are the Strature network pack (approved, independently re-checked); a good has its own page when the pack carries ten or more flows for it. Shares are as published and never added; volumes stay in the one unit the pack uses for the good and are never added across goods. Routes are modelled main routes. The days in “Who runs short first” are read from the precomputed cases the network map and the scenario pages use; late cargo is never added to lost cargo, and the EU (27) is never added to its members. The forecast box shows our register’s words and estimates unchanged, each scored when it resolves.

Sources and licences

  1. [1] Exiger, 2025
  2. [2] Share of EU (27)'s helium imports from Qatar. Eurostat, 2025
  3. [3] Share of its imports of this good that pass the strait. Kyodo via Sakigake, 2025
  4. [4] Share of its imports of this good that pass the strait. USGS, 2024
  5. [5] Share of its imports of this good that pass the strait. MDIC/SECEX Comex Stat, 2025
  6. [6] Ministry of Finance Japan / e-Stat, 2025
  7. [7] HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics, 2025

Cite this page Strature, “Helium”, Strature GPS, https://strature.net/gps/goods/helium/, 31 Oct 2026.