Gazprom Boosts Asian Helium Supplies, Flooding Market Amid Global Surplus
Russia's Gazprom has restarted helium shipments from its Amur Gas Processing Plant, boosting supplies to Asian countries. This comes amidst a global helium market experiencing excess supply for the first time in years, with Russian volumes increasing significantly.
The Amur plant, located in Russia's Far East, has expanded its reach, sending helium to multiple Asian countries. This expansion follows a trend of increasing Russian helium supply, forecast to reach 17% of the global helium market by 2030.
Geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions have impacted helium supply, with Russian volumes flooding into Asia. This shift has softened demand for new container builds in the US, leading Linde, a major US manufacturer, to scale back output at its Pennsylvania facility. Meanwhile, Air Liquide reported softened helium prices in China due to cheaper Russian volumes.
The current surplus has created opportunities for equipment suppliers to diversify. However, supply volatility remains a significant challenge for the global helium market.
Gazprom's resumed helium shipments have contributed to the global helium market's excess supply. While this surplus creates opportunities for diversification, it also presents challenges, such as softened prices and reduced demand for new builds. The future of the global helium market depends on managing these supply fluctuations and geopolitical influences.
