We all know that gold, silver, copper and a few other high-profile materials are crucial to the global economy. But there are others of nearly equal importance, some of which are in seriously short supply.
A case in point is helium, an industrial gas that’s irreplaceable in sectors ranging from MRI scanners to superconducting magnets. The latest Middle East war has caused a global shortage, with all the investment opportunities that that implies.
Macro Butler’s Laurent Lequeu just posted a great primer on helium and its place in a well-run portfolio. Here’s an excerpt:
From Gas to Glory: The Quiet Force of Helium Scarcity
Invisible, indispensable, and surprisingly powerful, helium commands attention when it tightens its grip.
Helium moves in the world as the virtuous man moves through society — without noise, yet indispensable in its presence. Light and unreactive, it neither contends nor imposes, yet sustains the harmony of vital endeavours, from the crafting of semiconductors to the reaching of the heavens. Unlike oil, gold, or copper, it does not proclaim its worth; it fulfils its role with quiet constancy — within healing instruments, precise manufactories, and vessels that ascend beyond the earth. Yet in an age of disorder among nations, even what is most silent begins to signal imbalance. The wise, attentive to subtle things, will recognize in this quiet presence not only utility, but a gentle warning.
Helium, the second element of the ordered universe, behaves much like the wise sage who, having achieved inner completeness, finds no need to entangle himself in unnecessary relationships. It is colourless, odourless, tasteless, and harmless — possessing all qualities of humility, yet none of insignificance. With a full outer shell, it neither seeks nor accepts bonds under ordinary circumstances, preferring the quiet dignity of independence. While other elements busily react, combine, and occasionally cause trouble, helium remains serene and unmoved, a true gentleman among atoms. In its solitary, monoatomic nature, it teaches that there is strength in restraint — and, amusingly, that sometimes the most useful member of society is the one who simply refuses to react at all.....
....Helium is not the kind of gas you can whip up in a factory after a strong coffee — it prefers a far more leisurely schedule. It is forged deep within the Earth over millions of years, as uranium and thorium quietly fall apart and release alpha particles that eventually settle down and become helium atoms. These atoms then gather, almost by accident, in underground reservoirs, often hanging out with natural gas like uninvited but well-behaved guests. The problem is, helium has no sense of commitment: being extremely light, it escapes through porous rock at the first opportunity, and only the most well-structured geological traps can keep it from drifting off. Even then, it insists on being present in just the right proportions — usually above about 0.3% — before anyone considers it worth extracting. In short, helium is not just rare; it is picky, elusive, and operates entirely on its own timeline.
Read the rest of Laurent’s article here.
