The restriction comes as Russia also curbs exports and damage at Qatar’s Ras Laffan facility adds pressure to supplies used in semiconductor manufacturing and AI hardware.
China will temporarily ban helium exports from July 10, 2026, as Beijing moves to protect domestic supply of a critical industrial gas used in semiconductor manufacturing. The restriction, previously reported as covering customs code 2804290010, was announced by China’s Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs and comes amid broader strain in the global helium market. Russia imposed temporary helium export controls in April 2026 that are set to remain in place through the end of 2027, while Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility, which previously accounted for roughly one-third of global helium production, has suffered operational damage linked to regional conflict. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have added to logistical pressure. The United States produces about 43% of global helium supply, Qatar about 33%, and Russia about 8%, while China imports more than 80% of its helium. Helium is used in chip fabrication for cooling, leak detection and as a carrier gas in lithography, so tighter supply can raise costs and slow production of semiconductors, AI chips, HBM memory and related hardware including data-center GPUs and Bitcoin mining machines. Rising helium prices in 2026 have already reflected stronger demand from Asia’s semiconductor and AI markets.