Helium supply shock ripples through industrial gas markets

Qatar supplied roughly 30–35% of the world's helium before strikes on Ras Laffan Industrial City in March 2026 damaged LNG production there — and helium is recovered during LNG processing. Industry estimates of the supply lost range from about 11% to a third of global helium. One industry analysis reported a partial restart of a Qatari helium plant at around a quarter of normal capacity by late August, with export shipping through the Strait of Hormuz still disrupted.

Russia, the world's third-largest helium supplier, has placed temporary controls on helium exports to keep its domestic market supplied, tightening the picture further.

Prices have followed. The same industry analysis put helium spot prices in the hardest-hit regions above $1,000–1,200 per thousand cubic feet, against long-term contract prices of roughly $500–550. Separately, a Chinese gas supplier reports liquid argon prices in its market up more than 270% since May 2026 — attributing most of that to air separation unit maintenance and cutbacks plus semiconductor and solar demand, with the helium disruption acting as an amplifier. That figure is one supplier's report for one market, not a global price.