The 2026 helium shortage is primarily caused by the Iran war, which has disrupted roughly one-third of global helium supply, affecting semiconductors, medical imaging, and industrial operations.
Semiconductors: Helium is used in wafer cooling, leak detection, and etching with no viable substitute. South Korea sourced nearly 65% of its helium from Qatar in 2025 and produces roughly two-thirds of global memory chips. Its Ministry of Trade has launched a supply exposure investigation across 14 semiconductor materials. SK hynix reports securing diversified supply; TSMC says it is monitoring but does not anticipate notable impact. Samsung Electronics and GlobalFoundries are also exposed. During allocation events, high-bandwidth memory and AI server DRAM are likely to be prioritized over conventional DDR5, DDR4, and NAND for PCs and smartphones.
Medical imaging: MRI machines require approximately 1,500 liters of liquid helium to operate, and healthcare accounts for roughly 30% of global consumption. Most installed scanners have no alternative cooling method. During shortage scenarios, medical applications are typically allocated supply first.
Aerospace and defense: Helium is essential for rocket propulsion, satellite testing, fuel system pressurization, and cryogenic defense applications. NASA and the U.S. defense sector are among the largest institutional consumers of helium and launch providers such as SpaceX are also heavily dependent.
Quantum computing and research: Cryogenic helium cooling is required for several quantum computing architectures and particle accelerators. Research institutions are typically the first to face rationing due to smaller contracts and lower allocation priority.