Overview
- The Russian government imposed temporary export controls on helium that require special approval for shipments outside the Eurasian Economic Union, a policy first enacted on April 14 and legally scheduled to run until the end of 2027.
- The limits have reduced flows from the Amur processing plant into China, which relies on imports for more than 85% of its helium needs and has been a major destination for Russian supply.
- Lower-grade liquid helium prices in China have jumped about 65% since early 2026 as buyers face smaller volumes and greater competition for gas used in wafer cooling and other chipmaking steps.
- Global supplies were already tight because of production disruptions in Qatar and concentrated output in the United States and Qatar, so Russia’s move increases the near-term risk to MRI services, fiber-optic production and semiconductor fabs.
- Near-term responses may include more recycling, reallocation of shipments from other producers, and investment in new capacity but those options are slow to scale, which could raise costs for manufacturers and slow chip output over the months ahead.