Helium Supply and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis – A Critical Raw Material Under Pressure

Helium is a critical yet often overlooked resource with no short term substitute in key applications such as MRI scanners, semiconductor manufacturing, and advanced scientific research. In early March 2026, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz abruptly halted Qatar’s helium production, removing around one third of global supply in a single event. With no spare capacity elsewhere and limited policy attention to helium’s strategic importance, this disruption exposes a structural vulnerability in global supply chains.

This report examines the scale and implications of the current shortage, highlighting that the issue is not only rising prices but also potential unavailability for essential industries. It argues for urgent policy action, including strategic reserves, improved recycling, and accelerated development of helium-efficient or alternative technologies, to reduce long-term dependency on fragile supply routes.