HS 2804.29Industrial gases

HS Code for Helium (HS 2804.29)

Helium is a strategic industrial gas - MRI machines, semiconductor wafer processing, welding purge, rocket pre-fill. Supply is byproduct of natural-gas processing (Qatar, US, Russia, Algeria). BLM stockpile privatisation and Russian sanctions have caused chronic shortages 2022-24.

Reviewed against WCO HS · WTO IDB · National customs schedules4 authoritative sourcesLast reviewed July 2026

Sample 6-digit codes

Code	Description
2804.29	Rare gases (argon, helium, neon, krypton, xenon)

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Typical import duty by market

Market	Duty
European Union	5.5%
United States	0%
China	0-4%
India (BCD)	5%

Worked landed-cost example

20,000 CBM liquid helium (~2,500 kg), FOB Ras Laffan USD 200/CBM (helium 4.6 grade), CIF Rotterdam

FOBUSD 4,000,000

Cryogenic ISO tank + freightUSD 300,000

CIFUSD 4,300,000

EU duty 5.5%USD 236,500

Landed ≈ USD 4.54m. Cryogenic evaporation losses en route ~0.5%/day compress margins.

Run your own numbers in the import duty & tax calculator.

Regulatory checkpoints

· IMDG Class 2.2 non-flammable gas.
· ISO 11114 for pressure vessel material compatibility.
· US Helium Stewardship Act 2013.
· EU CRM Act 2024 - helium on critical raw materials list from 2023.

Top exporting countries

· Qatar
· United States
· Algeria
· Russia (sanctioned)
· Australia

Frequently asked questions

Why prices swing violently?

~90% of world helium comes as a by-product of LNG or natural gas processing. When gas production dips (maintenance, sanctions, force majeure) helium co-product also dips. There are only 8 major helium plants globally. A single outage lifts spot prices 30-50% for months.