One third of the world's helium passes through a single narrow maritime strait
While helium is the second most abundant element in the universe, one-third of the global supply relies on a single maritime passage, creating a massive vulnerability for modern medical and semiconductor industries.
A staggering 30 percent of the world's helium is produced by Qatar, which must ship the gas through the narrow Strait of Hormuz. This makes the global supply chain incredibly fragile, as helium is vital for cooling MRI superconductors and manufacturing 93 percent of all semiconductors. Just one supertanker delay can cause a cascade of shortages, potentially spiking chip costs by 20 percent.
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