Sputnik Reports: Russia Steps In to Offset Helium Shortage Threatening Chip Industry

Escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered a sharp disruption in global helium supplies, sending ripples through the semiconductor industry and other high-tech sectors.

 

On April 1, 2026, Sputnik posted on X:

The post highlighted how the war had forced QatarEnergy to halt most liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at the Ras Laffan Industrial City, where major helium purification plants operated as a byproduct of LNG processing. Qatar had accounted for approximately 30-36% of global helium supply in recent years, producing around 63 million cubic meters in 2025 out of a worldwide total of about 190 million cubic meters. Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz further prevented shipments from leaving the Persian Gulf, isolating available volumes and driving spo...