Helium (He) — Spot Prices Surge Over 50%, Samsung and SK Hynix Monitor Daily
AcCording to industry sources cited by the Taiwan Economic Daily News, helium spot prices have surged more than 50% amid ongoing supply disruptions. Procurement departments at Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and DB HiTek are conducting daily checks on critical material supply and price fluctuations to prevent production interruptions .
Helium is a byproduct of LNG processing, extracted through cryogenic distillation. As a critical raw material across multiple industries, helium is used in semiconductor, LCD panel, and optical fiber manufacturing for rapid cooling of components and controlling heat transfer rates, improving production efficiency while reducing defects .
The ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict continues to disrupt the helium market, with Qatar supply tightening driving prices upward. According to CCTV Finance, Iranian attacks have disrupted approximately 17% of Qatar's LNG export capacity. Bank of America recently estimated that helium spot prices have risen approximately 40% under different market scenarios .
Hua Tai Securities notes that with rapid development in semiconductors, aerospace, and other sectors, helium demand continues to grow. The Asia-Pacific region represents the largest demand market, with China, South Korea, and Japan as major consumers. In 2025, 66% of China's helium imports originated from Qatar .
As global helium supply tightens, semiconductor companies in China, Japan, and South Korea may accelerate stockpiling of helium and other electronic gases, potentially increasing both sales volume and prices .
Sources:
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Taiwan Economic Daily News
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CCTV Finance
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Hua Tai Securities Research Report, March 19, 2026