(Reuters, IEA, April 26, 2026) A historic crisis is unfolding for the global high-tech and medical industries. Following the March attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, which shut down ~30% of global helium production, Russia announced on April 14 a ban on helium exports to countries outside the Eurasian Economic Union, effective until the end of 2027. Combined, these events have rendered ~40% of global helium capacity effectively offline—a catastrophic disruption for the “lifeblood of high-tech.”

Key Impacts

• Price Surge: High-purity helium prices in China have skyrocketed from 61–90 RMB/m³ to 153 RMB/m³, a jump of 75%–131.82%; cylinder helium rose nearly 15% in a single day on April 20.
• Production Halts: 30% of global helium demand comes from semiconductors, where it is irreplaceable for EUV lithography cooling and wafer etching. Shortages risk mass production cuts worldwide. In healthcare, MRI machines are idling due to lack of helium, affecting millions of patients.
• Supply Chain Reset: The U.S., Qatar, Russia, and Algeria control over 80% of global helium reserves. The crisis is accelerating domestic substitution and diversification efforts across major economies.