Overview
- Qatar’s LNG plants damaged by Iranian strikes and restricted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have removed roughly a third of global helium, and QatarEnergy has signaled a 14% annual drop in exports.
- Industry executives report early production hits in chip supply chains as helium prices climb, with some manufacturers slowing output and focusing on higher‑value products.
- Hospitals warn MRI services could be squeezed, with one U.S. lab told to expect at least a 50% cut in liquid helium allocation as analysts note prices have roughly doubled since the fighting began.
- About 200 specialized cryogenic containers are stranded near the Strait of Hormuz and liquid helium must ship within about 45 days, leaving fabs and clinics with only weeks of usable stock before boil‑off makes it unusable.
- Air Liquide, which opened a new facility in Taichung on Wednesday, is reallocating supply and diversifying sources, while U.S. output and possible Russian sales to China offer only partial relief due to trade, logistics and customer‑qualification limits.