China Temporarily Bans Helium Exports as US-Iran Tensions Flare Again

China has temporarily banned helium exports in response to escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, creating an immediate supply shock for industries dependent on Chinese helium sourcing. Helium is critical for semiconductor manufacturing, medical imaging, and aerospace applications. If you make chips, medical devices, or spacecraft, your helium just got expensive and hard to find. China supplies 65% of global helium to end-users; you have weeks to either lock in inventory or find non-Chinese sources before prices spike.