Iranian drone strikes have forced Qatar to halt LNG production at its largest export facility, disrupting a significant portion of the global helium supply, which is crucial for semiconductor manufacturing. Qatar produces between 21% and 35% of the world’s helium as a byproduct of LNG processing, and China relies on Qatar for about 90% of its helium imports. This interruption comes after China had strategically shifted its helium supply away from US dependence to avoid American leverage, a move that now appears detrimental as the US controls over half of the world’s remaining helium reserves. The cessation of helium supply threatens China’s chip fabs amid an already intensifying semiconductor competition, exacerbating their reliance on a compromised supply chain.
Iran strikes halt Qatar LNG production, threatening global helium supply
