China will keep Russian helium for itself: Europe is losing a workaround

The Iranian war left the world without the main supplier of helium — Qatar. Now Beijing has imposed restrictions on the export of helium, which was resold from Russia to Europe.

Very soon, Europe may face a shortage of helium, which is a critical industrial gas for the production of chips and medical devices. According to The Financial Times, China has restricted helium exports and thus left the countries The EU is without Russian gas.

"China is not a source, but an intermediary. This means that the suspension closes the re—export channel that Europe had hoped for," Seokjun Kwon, a professor at Songkyongkwan University, told the publication.

The Financial Times cites analysts' assessment that the spot price of helium has doubled since the beginning of the Iranian war.

Russia restricted helium exports in April, and China imposed restrictions after the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck the Orenburg gas processing and helium plants in June, the British newspaper writes.

Pulsar's top manager Cliff Kane told him that the market situation has deteriorated in recent months, and the shortage of supplies affects the aerospace and welding industries. Ajit Manocha, president of the SEMI industry association, warned at the same time that semiconductor manufacturers will have to cope with rising prices and more complex procurement processes.

In this situation, the United States found itself in a much more advantageous situation than Europe, writes The Financial Times: the country produces large volumes of helium and hospital supplier Premier cited data that disruptions in the supply of medical helium have not yet affected hospitals.