The Magnets

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If you would like to buy a Helium balloon for a celebration, then it is likely you will pay a bit more for the privilege.

"the prices just Keep Going up and up," says Steve Durnford, director of the Family Business balloons of London.

The store party sells balloons for private individuals and companies, a victim of a global shortage of Helium saw that the prices for gas increase.

Mr Durnford says, the cost of the Helium he buys has risen Three Times this year, between 8% and 10% every time.

It's not suffering just to celebrate. The gas is also important in medicine, electronics, and deep-sea.

For example, it is of crucial importance in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, which use doctors to see detailed images of the inside of the patient.

It is important, also In Deep sea diving and scientific research, as well as for the production of computer chips and liquid crystal displays such as TV screens.

Helium is used to cool The Magnets in the MRI-Scanner

There is no Central wholesale price for the gas, because it is not traded on the global markets.

Phil Kornbluth, The Founder of Kornbluth Helium Consulting, advises clients on the commercial aspects of the global Helium business, says the "price is much increased incredibly in a short period of time".

"There is No Magic number. The Price of Helium is quite different around The World , depending on where you are in the supply chain and whether you buy from the source and how you buy it as a liquid or a gas, for example," he says.

"But it is safe to say that The Price has risen 50% to 100%, depending on who you are and where you are in the supply chain. "

Mr Kornbluth, says The Catalyst for the recent award of a U.S. government auction of crude Helium , increase was in August last year.

The National Helium reserve is now one of the largest suppliers of Helium . It was originally used as a strategic store for supplying gas to US airships, but auctioned to the private industry will be supplied annually since 2013. However, this was The Last such auction in 2021.

At the auction, the average price for crude Helium to a whopping 135% year-rose-on-year increase since industrial users of traded stocks for the coming years.

"It was very difficult for major suppliers to pass this increase on to their customers, so they have influence on the global pricing," says Mr Kornbluth.

What Helium is and what it is used for?

have A single auction, so much influence on the pricing, because there are very few Helium suppliers.

The gas formed by the decay of radioactive rocks in the earth's crust, accumulates in natural gas deposits and is collected as a by-product of The Natural gas industry.

Separate the Helium from The Natural gas and the storage of Helium is expensive, time-consuming and difficult and therefore relatively rare.

One of the UK's largest Helium supplier, the orders will be limited because of the current shortage.

"Because of a global Helium shortage, everything pure Helium and balloon gas-orders are currently being reserved on a full-time-for-empty basis only and are pretty, to all of our customers," it says.

People have different opinions about whether or not Helium , should be allowed to be used in speech bubbles

the balloons of London Mr. Durnford said the cost has meant that in some cases, they have started using air filled balloons instead of Helium , with a cardboard support, to create structures, such as arches.

And they had to increase the prices. Purchase of 50 standard-sized balloons will cost £6. 49, but if a customer would like these filled with Helium , The Price is simply 10 times £69.

"People still spend the same, but you get less balloons for your money. So, for a child's party, where you could have bought 50, you could now says only 30," he said.

replenishment

Mr Kornbluth, says the current lack of facilitate should from next year, with new supplies expected to be in the market from Algeria and Qatar, and then from Russia in the year 2021.

But David Cole-Hamilton, professor Emeritus of chemistry at the University of St Andrews, says Helium is given importance in the medical fields, its use for the balloons should be banned.

He estimates that about 10% of the total supply of Helium is used for balloons, what he says, is "absurd" in view of the offer Yes limited.

"If you said that People who want a Helium balloon or a MRI scan for her daughter, it is an obvious choice," he says.

But Mr Durnford says that People continue to buy them for special occasions. "People are only 30, 40 or 50 times. If you want it, you have it," he says.

companies

Source of news: bbc.com