The Centre for Materials and Resilience (CMR) has released a new policy brief, Helium Supply and the Strait of Hormuz Crisis, examining the sudden disruption of global helium supply and its implications for critical industries.
CMR’s analysis shows that no alternative supplier can compensate for the lost volumes in the short term. Structural vulnerabilities, including high concentration of production, limited storage, and dependence on a single maritime chokepoint, mean that recurring shortages are likely to persist.
The policy brief calls for urgent action from governments and industry. Key recommendations include the establishment of strategic helium reserves, accelerated deployment of recycling and helium-efficient technologies, and explicit inclusion of helium in critical raw materials policy frameworks.
With this publication, CMR aims to bring greater attention to helium as a strategic resource and to support more resilient and forward-looking supply chain policies.
