Helium under pressure

The impact of geopolitical situation on most important gas for elemental analysis

Helium has long been the carrier gas of choice in elemental analysis, valued for its inertness, high thermal conductivity, and ability to deliver fast, accurate separations. In techniques such as combustion analysis (CHNS/O, CN), it plays an important role in ensuring reliability and reproducibility.

A fragile and geopolitically sensitive supply chain

Helium is a non-renewable resource, primarily recovered as a by-product of natural gas extraction. Its production is highly concentrated, with the United States, Qatar, Algeria, and, more recently, Russia accounting for the majority of global supply.

This structural imbalance, combined with geopolitical instability, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and rising demand from strategic industries such as medical imaging, semiconductors, and aerospace, has resulted in:

Recurring supply shortages
Significant price volatility
Extended procurement lead times

As of 2026, the market is once again entering a critical phase. The ongoing Middle East conflict has directly impacted Qatar’s Ras Laffan complex, a key hub for helium production, while disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are constraining global export flows. With Qatar alone representing around one-third of global supply, the implications are immediate and far-reaching.

Recovery timelines for damaged infrastructure are uncertain and could extend over several years, while logistical constraints continue to tighten short-term availability.

The industry is now approaching what could become the fifth global helium shortage. For laboratories relying on elemental analysis, this is more than a supply issue. It is an operational risk, affecting continuity, cost predictability, and long-term planning.

Rethinking dependency: the need for flexibility

In this context, reducing dependency on helium is becoming a strategic priority.

Velp addresses this challenge with a flexible approach built into its elemental analyzers from the outset. All systems are factory-configured for dual gas operation, allowing laboratories to switch seamlessly between helium and argon without any hardware modifications.

This design ensures uninterrupted workflows, even in volatile supply scenarios.

Why Argon is an alternative?

Argon offers a practical and increasingly relevant alternative. As a gas obtained from air separation, it is widely available and not subject to the same geopolitical constraints that affect helium supply chains.

Although argon presents different physical characteristics, modern analyzer design enables comparable analytical performance when properly optimized.

Velp elemental analyzers are engineered to operate efficiently with both gases, providing laboratories with the flexibility to adapt without compromising data quality.

By enabling dual gas operation, Velp supports laboratories in:

Reducing exposure to helium shortages
Stabilizing operating costs
Maintaining analytical continuity
Adapting to evolving market conditions

In a context of increasing uncertainty, flexibility is no longer an option. It is a requirement.

Velp’s approach ensures that laboratories remain operational, resilient, and ready to face the next phase of the helium supply challenge.