Who Is Hurt Most by the Helium Shortage? MRI, Chips and Space

Where does the world's helium go?

To judge who is hurt most by the helium shortage, start with where the gas goes. Helium is mostly recovered as a by-product of natural gas processing ^[7]. It is chemically inert, and liquid helium is the coldest liquid on Earth ^[10]. The US Geological Survey (USGS) says nothing can replace it in cryogenic uses below about −256°C (−429°F) ^[1]. Its breakdown of US helium use in 2025 was ^[1]:

• analytical, engineering, laboratory, science and specialty gases: 22%
• controlled atmospheres, fibre optics and semiconductors: 17%
• lifting gas: 17%
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): 15%
• aerospace: 9%
• welding: 8%
• diving and leak detection: 5% each

Global estimates differ. Data from Kornbluth Helium Consulting, published by Physics Today, show that semiconductor manufacturing has overtaken MRI as the largest user worldwide. Research accounted for about 10% of total use in 2025 ^[5]. Siemens Healthineers, quoted by Al Jazeera, estimates that about a quarter of worldwide helium goes to cooling superconducting magnets ^[2]. Helium-filled hard drives are another use. AGBI reported that Seagate and Western Digital had raised prices and had already allocated their 2026 production ^[3].

Why is there a helium shortage in 2026?

QatarEnergy halted LNG production on 2 March after attacks on its Ras Laffan and Mesaieed facilities. Helium is extracted during LNG processing, so helium output stopped as well ^[2]. Qatar produced about 63 million m³ in 2025, close to a third of world output ^[1,2]. Later strikes on Ras Laffan damaged about 17% of Qatar's LNG export capacity, and QatarEnergy's chief executive said repairs would take three to five years. The company expects annual helium exports to fall by 14% ^[2]. The gas side of the disruption is covered in our analysis of LNG, gas prices and urea in 2026.

Logistics added to the problem. Almost all Qatari helium leaves by sea through the Strait of Hormuz, and liquid helium generally has to be shipped within 45 days of liquefaction before it boils off ^[2]. About 200 specialised containers were stranded at the start of the war ^[3,10]. Helium consultant Phil Kornbluth said spot prices had doubled, while Anish Kapadia of AKAP Energy cited early increases of about 50% ^[4]. In April, Russia made helium exports outside the Eurasian Economic Union subject to government approval until the end of 2027 ^[11].

How does the helium shortage affect MRI?

MRI scanners use liquid helium to keep their superconducting magnets at about −269°C ^[7]. Most need about 1,500 litres. Of roughly 70,000 systems installed worldwide, about 65,000 still rely on liquid helium ^[6]. The main risk is a quench, when the magnet loses superconductivity and its helium boils off. A refill normally takes about two weeks to order; without helium, a scanner can be down for weeks. A quench not covered by a service contract can cost $50,000 to $75,000 ^[6]. MRI safety consultant Tobias Gilk told Euronews that a scanner without enough helium "effectively becomes a very expensive paperweight" ^[7]. A Philips executive said the effects of a supply incident typically appear six to nine months later ^[6].

Reports from providers in the first weeks were mixed. Kyle MacKinnon of Premier, a US group purchasing organisation, said "We're not seeing signs of a blackout". He noted that US suppliers rely on domestic production, although contract terms may allow surcharges ^[8]. Philips said it saw no material impact on its ability to supply MRI systems ^[8]. Some research imaging was affected. At Massachusetts General Hospital's Martinos Center, Linde declared force majeure, and a preclinical imaging magnet faced shutdown if no helium could be found ^[5].

Manufacturers are cutting helium use. Philips' sealed BlueSeal magnet holds 7 litres and needs no refills; more than 2,400 are in operation ^[6]. Siemens Healthineers' Magnetom Flow.Ace uses 0.7 litres in a closed circuit, and more than 500 of its DryCool systems have shipped. GE HealthCare markets its sealed-magnet technology as Freelium ^[8]. The USGS notes that superconductors that could be cooled with nitrogen are in development ^[1]. But the installed base changes slowly.

Helium in semiconductor manufacturing: how are chipmakers coping?

Chipmakers use helium to cool wafers during lithography and etching, for leak detection and purging, and as a carrier gas in deposition and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) processes ^[9]. It also flushes residues after chemical cleaning ^[10]. Taiwan's Commercial Times put helium at under 1% of wafer manufacturing costs but described it as irreplaceable in etching and process cooling ^[9].

Asian producers are the most exposed. South Korea sourced 64.7% of its 2025 helium imports from Qatar, while Japan took about 60% from the United States and 37% from Qatar ^[9]. Most of Taiwan's helium came from Qatar ^[10].

Chipmakers responded quickly. Samsung and SK hynix diversified sources, expanded recycling and signed additional long-term contracts with Linde and Air Products, reportedly at higher prices. Yonhap reported that Korea had secured about four months of semiconductor-grade helium. TSMC was reported to hold more than two months of inventory, and leading fabs recover 80–90% of helium through on-site recycling, according to Forbes ^[9]. Air Liquide opened a new factory in Taichung, Taiwan, and said it was assessing customers' stockpiles ^[10]. US fabs such as Intel's draw mainly on domestic supply and are less exposed ^[9]. TechInsights' Dan Hutcheson expected limited effects on chip sales ^[7].

Purchasing power matters too. In past shortages chipmakers outbid other users, including medical imaging. Richard Brook of Garrison Ventures said "they'll outbid anybody" because shutting a fab is so costly ^[10].

Space, research laboratories and other users

Space. Aerospace accounted for 9% of US helium use in 2025 ^[1]. Launch vehicles use helium to pressurise propellant tanks and to purge fuel lines and other components, because it does not react with fuels or oxidisers. Satellites use it to pressurise propellant tanks, and it cools some telescope detectors ^[12]. Kornbluth expected rocket programmes, like MRI, to receive their full requirements ^[4].

Research. Physics Today reported that researchers are "lower down in priority, along with party balloon sellers" ^[5]. Sophia Hayes of Washington University in St Louis reported "allotments being cut in half". Northwestern University said Messer raised prices by about 14% to more than $31.70 per litre. A UConn Health NMR facility, whose supplier sourced from Qatar and declared force majeure, found an alternative at twice the price. In Japan, facilities without reliquefying systems have been forced to shut down instruments ^[5]. Recovery systems help: in 2023 users reported efficiencies of 75% to 95%. Cryogen-free cooling avoids liquid helium but costs more and vibrates, which limits some experiments ^[14,5].

Welding, diving and balloons. These users have substitutes. Argon and nitrogen can replace helium in welding, argon and hydrogen in diving, and hydrogen in some lifting uses ^[1]. Kornbluth expected them to face deeper cuts ^[4].

Who gets priority under helium allocation?

Most helium is sold under long-term contracts rather than on a spot market ^[4]. When supply falls, distributors can declare force majeure and ration volumes. Airgas declared force majeure and cut shipments by half ^[2]. Kornbluth expected MRI systems and rocket programmes to receive 100% of their needs and semiconductor makers 95%, with deeper cuts for welding, diving and party balloons ^[4]. Premier's MacKinnon said suppliers "prioritize medical devices or medical gas over industrial use" ^[8].

Priority does not protect every user. In the 2022 shortage, Airgas cut University of California, Davis campus accounts to 65% of the previous year's use while keeping medical accounts at 100%; Linde cut both to 50% ^[13]. In 2026, the Martinos Center's experience shows that medical research can lose supply too ^[5]. Buyers without long-term contracts face the steepest price rises ^[4].

What to watch

• Qatar's restart. QatarEnergy said production would restart only once hostilities ceased ^[3]. Imaging Technology News reported in June that the facility may not reach full capacity for years ^[6].
• Russian export approvals under the procedure that runs to the end of 2027 ^[11].
• Container logistics. Kornbluth estimated it could take months to reposition, refill and deliver stranded containers ^[10].
• Chip inventories. In April, Korea's semiconductor-grade stocks were put at about four months and TSMC's at more than two months ^[9].
• MRI replacement cycles and the uptake of sealed, low-helium magnets ^[6,8].

Alupetra does not trade helium; it follows the gas-market developments that affect helium supply from its Istanbul, London and Dubai offices.