Messsage from Jim Avolt:

​"Things have changed a bit in the rare gas market.  The source for crude rare gases are large Air Separation Units (ASU’s).  These facilities use refrigeration and pressure to separate air into its various gas components.  As the air is chilled, each component drops as a liquid when the temperature drops below its boiling point.

"Crude rare gases are harvested from these separation plants, but the systems to capture these rare gases needs to be installed as the plants are being built.  Because rare gases have such a low concentration in air, only the largest ASU’s are candidates for rare gas harvesting.
 
Because of the huge requirement for oxygen at steel plants, the largest ASU’s in the world were constructed at or near the largest steel plants in the world.  Those plants are located in China, Russia and Ukraine. 
 
The virus has had a huge impact on the global demand for steel, causing steel plants to reduce production levels.  As the production decreased, the operating hours of the3 ASU’s were reduced.  This is causing a global shortage of rare gases. 
 
Krypton gas has seen the highest increase.  Besides the shortage for crude gas from the ASU’s, several semiconductor manufacturers have significantly increased their requirement for the gas.  As the krypton is only a small fraction of the cost profile of these semiconductor fabrication facilities, the cost of the gas is a small consideration to them.  They need the gas, so they buy the gas.
 
At this time, both Airgas / Air Liquide & Linde / Praxair are not quoting new customers on krypton gas and have placed most customers on allocation for the gas.
 

​XENON:
Lecture bottle, CGA 580 brass valve; xenon, 99.999+%; 50 liters; $1,900.00.  In stock.  Shipping by FedEx Ground Haz Mat = $75.00
 
NEON:
Disposable B cylinder, CGA 580 brass valve; neon, 99.999+%; 250 liters; $420.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ 75.00
 
Disposable C cylinder, CGA 580 brass valve; neon, 99.999+% pure; 500 liters; $ 650.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ $75.00
 
HELIUM & ARGON, both 99.999+%: SAME PRICE for these gases.
Disposable B cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; helium OR argon, 99.999+% pure; 250 liters; $300.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ $75.00
 
Disposable C cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; helium OR argon, 99.999+% pure; 500 liters; $360.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ $75.00
 
KRYPTON:
Disposable B cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; krypton, 99.999+% pure; 250 liters; $1,250.00 + shipping @ $75.00
 
Disposable C cylinder; CGA 580 brass valve; krypton, 99.999+% pure; 500 liters; $2,000.00 + shipping by FedEx Ground @ 75.00