Helium and Chipmaking in 2026: Which Countries' Fabs Are Most Exposed?

Why do chipmakers need helium?

Helium is inert, conducts heat well and stays a gas at very low temperatures, which makes it hard to replace in several fab processes. TrendForce lists wafer backside cooling during lithography and etching, thermal and vacuum stability in process tools, leak detection, gas purging and use as a carrier gas in plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition and EUV lithography ^[1]. Memory production is particularly helium-intensive because 3D stacking involves repeated high-temperature etching and deposition ^[1].

Chips have overtaken medicine as the biggest user. Kornbluth Helium Consulting data cited by Physics Today show semiconductor manufacturing has surpassed MRI as the largest helium user ^[2]. Santiago & Company estimates semiconductors account for about 24% of global helium use, rising to about 30% by 2030 ^[3].

Yet helium is a small cost. It represents less than 1% of wafer manufacturing costs, according to TrendForce ^[1]. That is why chipmakers can outbid other users when supply is short: an idle fab costs far more than the gas ^[4].

Which countries are most exposed?

Exposure depends on where each country buys its helium.

South Korea is the most exposed. In 2025, 64.7% of its helium imports came from Qatar ^[1]. Fitch has described Korea as among the most vulnerable to helium supply risk ^[5]. The government reportedly holds about four months of semiconductor-grade helium ^[1].

Taiwan is exposed but better diversified. Estimates of Qatar's share vary: a TrendForce-relayed report put it at about 30%, while The Diplomat reported that Taiwan sourced 69% of its helium from Gulf Cooperation Council states in 2024 ^[6]. Trade data in April suggested Taiwan was shifting purchases towards the United States ^[6].

Japan relies more on the United States. TrendForce says about 60% of Japan's 2025 helium imports came from the US and about 37% from Qatar ^[1]; a Fitch note reported by the South China Morning Post put Qatar's share at 28–33% ^[5]. Japan holds inventories in both the US and Qatar ^[5].

China depends on imports for more than 80% of its helium, and Qatar and Russia together supplied about 98% of those imports in 2025 ^[7]. Chinese chipmaking used about 4.4 million cubic metres of helium in 2024, about 16% of national demand ^[7]. On 10 July 2026, China temporarily banned helium exports to protect domestic supply ^[7].

The United States is the least exposed. As the world's largest producer, with about 81 million cubic metres a year, it supplies its fabs mainly from Texas, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma ^[1]. US manufacturers with large domestic capacity, such as Intel, are less exposed than Asian peers ^[1].

How are chipmakers responding?

Long-term contracts. Samsung Electronics and SK hynix signed new long-term helium supply agreements with Linde and Air Products, accepting higher prices for more diversified supply ^[8]. They are also expanding recycling and reallocating procurement ^[1].

Recycling. TSMC achieves 80–90% helium recovery through on-site recycling at leading fabs and keeps more than two months of inventory ^[1]. On 16 April, TSMC's chief financial officer said the company held safety stock of specialty gases, including helium, and sourced from several regions ^[6].

Inventory. Samsung and SK hynix reportedly held about four to six months of helium in their supply chains at the start of the crisis ^[9], but Santiago & Company notes that working stock at fab level is only about one week ^[3]. Liquid helium boils off, so chipmakers can store only about six weeks of supply on site ^[4].

Government support. Japan's industry ministry said in April that existing inventories could sustain supply through early May, and Japan Helium Co. reportedly redirected part of its overseas supply to the domestic market ^[1].

Has the helium shortage hurt chip output?

So far, the effect has been on costs and planning more than on output. TrendForce reported that prices for semiconductor-grade 6N and EUV-grade helium in Taiwan rose more than 5% on 2 April ^[1]. Kioxia reported no immediate impact ^[1]. The International Union of Marine Insurance noted that a prolonged disruption could threaten some of the roughly $650 billion of planned AI investment ^[10].

The risk is concentrated in the most advanced production. TSMC makes about 90% of the world's most advanced logic chips ^[10], and its CoWoS advanced packaging lines are among the most helium-sensitive processes ^[1].

Our earlier article on who is hurt most by the helium shortage also covers MRI and space. For Qatar's supply picture, see Qatar's helium production in 2026.

Questions people ask about helium and chips

Why is helium used in semiconductor manufacturing?

For cooling wafers during lithography and etching, keeping tools thermally stable, detecting leaks, purging lines and as a carrier gas in deposition and EUV lithography ^[1]. Its inertness and heat conductivity make it hard to substitute.

Which country's chip industry depends most on Qatari helium?

South Korea, which took 64.7% of its 2025 helium imports from Qatar ^[1]. Taiwan and Japan are less dependent, and the United States produces its own ^[1,6].

Can chipmakers recycle helium?

Yes, partly. TSMC recovers 80–90% of helium at its leading fabs through on-site recycling ^[1]. Other manufacturers are expanding recycling as well ^[1].

What to watch

• New long-term contracts between chipmakers and gas suppliers ^[8].
• China's export ban and whether it is extended ^[7].
• Qatari helium shipments through Hormuz ^[10].
• Recycling investments at Korean and Taiwanese fabs ^[1].

For all our helium coverage, see the helium topic page.

Alupetra follows helium, LNG and Gulf supply chains from Istanbul, London and Dubai; Alupetra does not deal with sanctioned parties.