China’s Helium Export Ban Triggers Global Tech Alarm As Hormuz Crisis Chokes Critical Supply

China’s temporary ban on helium exports has intensified a global supply crunch already worsened by disruptions in Qatar and the Strait of Hormuz. Helium is essential for semiconductor manufacturing, MRI machines, fibre optics, space systems and quantum computing, making the shortage far more serious than a balloon problem. Qatar normally supplies about one-third of global production, while India remains fully dependent on imports and sources more than half its requirement from Qatar. With limited storage, specialised transport and no easy substitute, prolonged disruption could significantly raise costs for chipmakers, hospitals, laboratories and other high-technology industries worldwide in the coming months.