Doha — Iran’s recent attack on Qatar’s natural gas export facilities has disrupted not only the energy market but also global technology supply chains.
Helium, widely known as a gas used in balloons, is essential for advanced semiconductor manufacturing, space exploration, and MRI machines in healthcare. Qatar supplies nearly one-third of the world’s helium demand. However, following the outbreak of conflict three weeks ago, the country was forced to suspend production.
Concerns over supply have intensified after Iran’s drone and missile strikes on regional energy infrastructure. Qatar’s state-owned gas company has warned that helium exports could decline by around 14 percent due to the ongoing situation.
Helium is produced as a byproduct of natural gas extraction. Qatar, home to the world’s largest single natural gas field, accounts for about 30 percent of global helium supply. The Ras Laffan facility, the world’s largest LNG plant, is where this gas is processed. Production was halted on March 2 following drone attacks, and further strikes later in the week caused extensive damage. Repairs could take several years.
Phil Kornbluth, president of Kornbluth Helium Consulting, said the situation is worsening. Earlier estimates suggested production might resume within six weeks, but that now appears unlikely.
Since the crisis began, helium spot prices have doubled. However, most helium is traded through long-term contracts, so the full market impact has yet to be felt. Shipments from Qatar to Asia take several weeks, meaning the real shortage may become evident later.
Helium is critical in semiconductor production, particularly for cooling silicon wafers used in artificial intelligence technologies. Experts say there is currently no effective alternative for this process.
It is also used in MRI machines to cool superconducting magnets and in rocket fuel systems for companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Helium is extremely difficult to store in gas formebecause its tiny molecules can escape through even the smallest openings. Qatar typically exports it in liquid form using specialized containers transported via the Strait of Hormuz. These containers can hold helium for 35 to 48 days before temperature increases cause leakage.
Currently, around 200 such containers are stranded in the Middle East, each valued at about $1 million. Analysts say relocating these containers and rebuilding supply chains will be one of the most challenging aspects of the crisis.
Amid the ongoing AI boom, South Korea’s semiconductor industry faces significant risk. According to Fitch Ratings, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix import about 65 percent of their helium from Qatar. The South Korean government has already placed helium among 14 key semiconductor materials under special monitoring.
However, experts believe a major disruption is not immediate. Chipmaker TSMC said it is monitoring the situation but does not expect a significant impact for now. Companies like Samsung and SK Hynix are also believed to have several months of запас.
Kornbluth added that if the shortage worsens, helium supplies will likely be prioritized based on industrial importance, with semiconductor and healthcare sectors receiving top priority.
