Competitor update9 Mar 2026 07:50
From HEX this morning - 'good' news for the entire industry
Global Helium Market Under Severe Strain
The Company notes further constraints to the global helium supply. Following Iran's strike on Qatar's Ras Laffan complex - the world's largest LNG export facility - all three of Qatar's helium production plants are now offline. One facility was already shut down for pipeline repairs; the remaining two ceased production as a direct result of the strike. Qatar is the world's second-largest helium producer, accounting for approximately one-third of global output.
The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz has further compounded the issue, as most Qatari helium exports transit through this critical waterway. Helium spot prices have surged 35-50% in the past week, according to industry consultant Phil Kornbluth of Kornbluth Helium Consulting. The Wall Street Journal reported on 6 March 2026 that the disruption poses direct risks to the global semiconductor supply chain, with South Korean officials warning of potential impacts on chip production at Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, both of which source helium from the region.
Helium is essential for semiconductor fabrication, MRI medical imaging, fibre optic manufacturing, scientific research, space launch systems, and national defence applications. Unlike most industrial gases, helium cannot be synthesized, it can only be extracted from underground geological formations or recovered as a byproduct of natural gas and LNG processing. When LNG production shuts down, the associated helium supply is lost entirely.
https://www.londonstockexchange.com/news-article/HEX/company-update/17492766
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