Superconducting Wire Market

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive diagnostic technique that employs magnetic and electromagnetic fields to generate detailed internal images of the human body. The method operates by stimulating hydrogen atoms within the body, detecting their response, and translating the signals into anatomical images via computer processing. As the global population ages, the demand for MRI-based diagnostics is rising, particularly for early detection and treatment of various medical conditions. MRI systems rely on superconducting magnets and radio frequencies to produce high-resolution images for medical analysis. Low-temperature superconductors, such as niobium-titanium (NbTi) wires, are commonly used in MRI systems due to their cost-effectiveness, dependability, and stable performance under cryogenic conditions.

Superconducting systems always require continuous and precise cooling to maintain their superconducting state, usually at cryogenic temperatures. This reliance on low temperatures significantly increases operational costs, which can limit their economic viability, especially in cost-sensitive applications. Cryogenic cooling typically uses either liquid helium or liquid nitrogen, both of which require specialized storage, delivery, and recirculation systems to keep temperatures below certain thresholds. The supporting systems—such as compressors, heat exchangers, insulation, and safety controls—also demand high initial investments and incur ongoing operational and maintenance expenses.

The rising demand for energy-efficient solutions has spurred increased research and development in the medical and transportation sectors, both of which depend heavily on superconducting wires. In medicine, MRI systems that use low-temperature superconductors like niobium-titanium (NbTi) incorporate superconducting wires to create high-field magnets that produce detailed images. By 2025, Bruker and Oxford Instruments reported a 15% increase in installations of HTS-based MRI systems, which can reduce helium consumption by 20% and lower operational costs by up to USD 10,000 per system each year. This shift also helps address the global helium shortage. In nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), superconducting magnets consume less power and generate stronger magnetic fields compared to permanent magnets, advancing their applications in medicine, chemistry, and pharmaceuticals. The NMR market is expanding worldwide, with Japanese companies like Fujikura providing rare-earth-based tapes for these systems. Superconductors have also played a significant role in transportation, making ship propulsion systems smaller and more flexible, which reduces a ship’s weight and improves efficiency. Cables made with superconducting material (HTS) can also increase power densities in ships and military vessels. In January 2022, American Superconductor delivered an HTS-based ship protection system to the US Navy, marking a major milestone. HTS wires are also used in maglev trains and subways to enable faster speeds and accommodate more passengers, as seen with projects like the Shanghai Maglev and the Tokyo-Nagoya line, both of which are superconducting-based. Additionally, superconducting wires are used in the electric vehicle (EV) sector to develop lighter, more efficient motors with longer range. For example, Airbus announced its prototype of an EV using HTS in 2024, featuring a motor designed to save 12% in fuel.r

Superconducting systems have significant barriers to large-scale adoption because of their expensive production. Superconducting wires involve sophisticated materials such as rare earth and high-purity metal, which are costly and of limited supply, contributing to price fluctuations. It is technically challenging in its manufacturing process, usually involving precision techniques like Powder-in-Tube (PIT), which also increases costs. Out of material and processing cost, there is an additional cost of keeping the material in a superconducting state at ultra-low temperature, as well as the fact that liquid helium, which is essential in cooling low-temperature superconductors, saw its price rise by about 10 percent a year as of 2025. These increasing prices put enormous obstacles in popularizing superconducting technology, especially in cost-sensitive systems such as urban power distribution and transportation, where more affordable conventional systems remain available.