Summary
A helium supply crisis caused by war in the Middle East—specifically Iran's attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility—has sent prices soaring, rationed demand, and drawn investor interest in new supply sources. The article suggests that exposure to helium production could become a bullish tailwind for equities, but it does not name specific companies or disclose positions.
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•Helium is produced exclusively by stripping it from natural gas streams, and the US has historically dominated production due to high-helium fields and a strategic reserve.
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•Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility, which by 2025 was the second-largest helium producer with roughly one-third of global market share, was attacked by Iran, forcing closure and destroying two of its 14 LNG trains.
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•Qatar's feed gas contains only 0.04% helium (400 ppm), but the massive scale of the facility made recovery economical.
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•Helium prices have exploded higher, and demand has been rationed to the highest-value applications in semiconductors and medical industries.
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•Investors are circling to deploy capital into helium production to alleviate the crisis, potentially turning previously obscure helium plays into prominent equity stories.
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•The article is a teaser (ending with 'Read more') and does not provide specific trade recommendations or own positions.