Al Jazeera reports that the shortage of helium could have a serious impact on medical and other industries, particularly affecting MRI machines and semiconductor technologies.
The conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran has led to disruptions in helium supplies, which are essential for medical needs, including MRIs, and in high-tech sectors such as the semiconductor industry.
This is related to restrictions on maritime transport and the suspension of helium production by one of the leading producers—Qatar.
Helium Production in the Gulf of Mexico
According to data from the US Geological Survey, Qatar produced about 63 million cubic meters of helium in 2025, which accounted for approximately one-third of the total global production of 190 million cubic meters.
Although other countries in the Persian Gulf are not major helium producers, they play an important role in the global supply chain, as exports from Qatar and neighboring countries depend on maritime routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz.
On March 2, Ibrahim Jabari, senior advisor to the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran, stated that the strait is "closed" and threatened to set fire to ships attempting to cross it. Since then, shipping through the strait has significantly decreased.
Iranian authorities claim that the strait is not completely closed, except for US and Israeli ships; however, new regulations require all vessels to obtain permission from Tehran to pass. As a result, traffic through the strait has virtually stopped, except for a few Indian, Pakistani, and Chinese vessels.
QatarEnergy, the world's largest producer of liquefied natural gas, whose plants also produce helium, reported a 14 percent reduction in the annual export of this element.
How is helium delivered to customers?
Helium, having a low density, occupies a lot of space in its gaseous state, so it is often cooled to a liquid state and stored in cryogenic containers to save space and reduce costs.
After liquefaction, helium must be transported within 45 days, as even well-insulated tanks gradually heat up, leading to helium evaporation and increased pressure inside the containers.
In Qatar, helium is delivered to customers by sea in containers.
Typically, all exported helium from Qatar is shipped by sea through the Strait of Hormuz, as helium extraction is concentrated in the Persian Gulf, and there is no alternative maritime route.
Why has helium production in the Gulf of Mexico been affected?
Helium is extracted as a byproduct of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, so any issues with LNG production inadvertently lead to a reduction in helium supplies.
LNG production in Qatar has been disrupted due to attacks on its energy infrastructure.
The state energy company of Qatar, QatarEnergy, announced on March 2 the suspension of LNG production following Iranian attacks on production facilities in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed, although Iranian officials denied reports of targeted attacks on QatarEnergy.
Last week, Iranian media reported an attack on gas facilities related to the South Pars gas field.
Within hours, Iranian missiles struck a liquefied gas plant in Ras Laffan, where about 20% of the world's LNG supplies are processed.
As a result of this attack, three fires broke out, and about 17% of Qatar's LNG export capacity was destroyed, which is estimated to lead to a loss of $20 billion in annual revenue over the next five years, according to QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi.
He stated that recovery would result in the cessation of production of 12.8 million tons of LNG per year for three to five years.
It is due to this reduction in LNG production that QatarEnergy announced a 14 percent reduction in liquid helium exports.
Who is most dependent on helium supplies from the Persian Gulf?
The largest consumers of helium from Qatar are South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and China.
Most supplies are delivered under long-term contracts rather than on the open spot market, meaning that price changes may not immediately affect consumers.
However, the supply shortage will continue to exist due to the reduction in exports from Qatar.
Alexander Romanenko, CEO of the research company IndexBox, told Reuters that a 30-day supply interruption could raise spot helium prices by 10-20%, while a 60-90 day interruption could raise prices by 25-50%, especially for buyers without long-term contracts.
Last week, a member of the ruling party in South Korea, Kim Yong-bae, warned that the US-Israel conflict with Iran could disrupt supplies of key materials for semiconductors, particularly helium.
Why is helium so important?
Helium has no analogs among elements that can be cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero (0 Kelvin).
These unique properties make helium indispensable in high-tech industries. It remains in a liquid state at very low temperatures and serves as a leak detector.
Helium is also chemically inert, making it ideal for cooling, as it does not contaminate chips and other materials.
These characteristics make helium perfect for cooling superconducting magnets, reducing their electrical resistance to nearly zero.
What is helium used for?
Due to its properties, liquid helium has become a key component in the operation of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines.
Superconducting magnets used in MRI machines require cooling. Helium allows these magnets to create powerful magnetic fields necessary for obtaining clear images of internal organs.
According to the German engineering company Siemens, about a quarter of all helium in the world is used to cool superconducting magnets, and demand for it continues to grow.
In addition, helium is essential for semiconductor production, which is the foundation of most modern electronic devices, from smartphones to military systems.
Helium is also used to fill balloons, meteorological probes, and some airships due to its lightness and non-flammability.
What will happen if helium becomes unavailable?
There is no artificial substitute for helium, meaning that its shortage will slow technological progress.
However, this is not a new problem.
The crisis caused by the conflict with Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz marks the fifth instance of helium shortage since 2006.
The medical industry is trying to adapt to these circumstances. In 2002, Chinese researchers announced the development of new technologies for creating MRI scanners without using helium, applying new superconducting materials.
Some researchers have also developed MRI machines capable of recirculating helium, reducing its consumption.
Nevertheless, at present, most MRI machines still use liquid helium.
Who else produces helium and can they increase production volumes?
The US is the largest producer of helium in the world, producing 81 million cubic meters, which accounts for over 40% of global reserves.
Exxon Mobil from Texas is the largest producer of helium outside Qatar, while the Canadian company North American Helium and smaller players like Helix Exploration and Blue Star Helium may face increased demand, according to Anish Kapadia, CEO of AKAP Energy.
However, even with this production, North American consumers remain dependent on helium from the Gulf of Mexico.
Airgas, a subsidiary of the French group Air Liquide, one of the largest helium distributors in the US, recently declared force majeure, leading to a halving of gas supplies.
Air Liquide announced plans to redistribute its helium supply chain to source gas from other regions, which was mentioned during the opening of a new advanced materials plant in Taichung, Taiwan. The company confirmed the use of multiple sources on different continents and its storage facility in Europe.
The article "Why the US-Israel War Against Iran May Cause Delays in MRI Scanning" first appeared in K-News.
