Share the gas for everyone: Russia may replace Qatari helium supplies to China
The war in the Persian Gulf led to the shutdown of helium production in Qatar, which provided about a third of its global supplies. Russia, which closes the top three in producing this gas, may increase exports primarily to China, one of the largest importers of helium, experts interviewed by Izvestia believe. Disruption of global supply chains and higher prices for this gas may affect its main applications, including the production of medical equipment and semiconductors. In this regard, analysts do not rule out an increase in the cost of drones, smartphones, laptops and other electronics.
How the Middle East conflict affected the helium market
In the early days of the Gulf War, the industrial complex in Ras Laffan was damaged by Iranian strikes. This is Qatar Energy's largest enterprise producing liquefied natural gas. According to Lola Ogrel, project manager of the Chemical Industry Consulting Department at the Fuel and Energy Complex Analytical Center, the production of helium was stopped along with LNG.
According to Qatar Energy CEO Saad al-Kaabi, the attacks resulted in the loss of approximately 8.8 million cubic meters of helium per year, or about 14% of Qatar's exports.
According to the World Population Review, the global production of this gas is 185 million cubic meters. Qatar accounted for almost a third of this volume — 64 million cubic meters. The leader in the production of this gas is the United States with 81 million cubic meters, and Russia closes the top 3 with 17 million cubic meters of helium per year.
According to Elizabeth Qi, an analyst at Implementation, about 2.5% of the annual global product production has already fallen during the month of conflict due to the suspension of shipments from Qatar.
"The loss of capacity has led to a shortage that can be estimated at about 5 million cubic meters of helium per month, and a prolonged shutdown of production will cause imbalances in the global market," the expert said.
Asian countries remain the main consumers of the Qatari product, according to the Energy and Energy Center, accounting for 64.4% of shipments (41 million cubic meters) last year. Of this volume, about 15 million cubic meters were imported by China. Europe accounts for 30% of shipments, while the United States accounts for 3.5%.
According to Lola Ogrel, the main indicator of the formation of a shortage is a significant increase in prices. According to AKAP Energy, which conducts a financial analysis of the energy and helium market, spot prices on the global market have increased 1.5 times in the first week since the shutdown of the Ras Laffan facilities, the expert noted.
Russia's role in the helium market
The situation in Russia is different today: the price of liquid helium on the St. Petersburg Stock Exchange (spot market) increased by 9.2% over the month, from 7,680 rubles per 1 kg in early March to 8,386 rubles as of April 3. The cost of gaseous during the same period increased by only 4.5% — from 1086 rubles per 1 cubic meter to 1135 rubles for the same volume.
The contract prices, which are updated every month, have not changed much. Gazprom GNP Holding is engaged in the sale of helium in the Russian Federation. The prices set by this company for April 2026 were lower than in March. So, the price per kilogram of liquid gas is now 7.95 thousand rubles with VAT against 8.03 thousand rubles in March 2026 (-1%). The price of helium gas has also not changed.
— The Russian market was in surplus, even when the only producer of this product, the Orenburg Helium Plant, was operating in the country. Now the supply of this gas in the country is several times higher than the demand for it. It is currently produced by Gazprom (Amur Gas Processing Plant and Orenburg Helium Plant) and Irkutsk Oil Company (Inc.). Their total capacity reaches 55 million cubic meters. Production in 2025 amounted to 20 million cubic meters of helium (10.5% of the global volume), consumption is slightly more than 4 million cubic meters," said Lola Ogrel.
According to her, the helium unclaimed by domestic consumers is exported. After the launch of the Amur Gas Processing Plant and the helium installation, INC. RF began to increase exports, and in 2025, with a share of 12%, it entered the top three exporters along with Qatar and the United States.
— This year, domestic manufacturers have every chance to increase exports and replace Qatar in supplies to China. To do this, it is necessary to continue expanding the fleet of specialized vehicles (ISO containers). By imposing sanctions on the import of Russian helium, European consumers have deprived themselves of the opportunity to respond promptly to the suspension of supplies from the Middle East and will soon face a shortage of this strategically important product," says Lola Ogrel.
According to Valery Andrianov, associate professor at the Financial University under the Government, the rapid increase in helium production in the Russian Federation is associated with the launch and full capacity of the Amur Gas Processing Plant. Thanks to him, in 2025, helium production increased by 32% and reached 17.3 million cubic meters. When the enterprise reaches its design capacity, volumes can reach up to 60 million cubic meters. m per year, which theoretically covers a significant part of the deficit. However, up to 2 thousand cryocysters will be required to transport such volumes, while the Russian Federation has only 60 of them, which limits the possibilities of logistics.
Due to the shutdown of production in Qatar, Russia has prospects for replacing retired supplies, said Elizaveta Qi, an analyst at Implementation. Currently, domestic plants are not operating at full capacity.
Izvestia sent inquiries to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and to all major producing companies of this gas.
According to Ekaterina Kosareva, managing partner of VMT Consult, Russia is able to increase helium exports, but the country really does not have enough cryocysters to multiply supplies.
— The problem is being solved by the fleet of tank cars that international traders have. Before the sanctions imposed by the European Union, they exported helium in their tanks. Demand creates supply. In addition, the Russian Federation intends to launch its own production of cryocysters. A few years ago, Rostec (Uralkriomash) agreed with Gazprom on such cooperation," she told Izvestia.
Gazprom reported that the company is currently "continuing to supply helium under previously assumed contractual obligations and is in the process of discussing additional applications."
What will become more expensive due to the shortage of helium
On April 7, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin noted that events in the Middle East had contributed to the emergence of new serious challenges, affecting the markets not only of oil and refined products, but also of other important goods.
— All this has led to significant imbalances in global trade. A number of states are forced to limit supplies abroad in order to protect domestic markets and the interests of their consumers," he said.
Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin
According to him, as a result, supplies of such important resources as carbamide, helium, naphtha and liquefied petroleum gas have decreased worldwide. The production of medical equipment, semiconductors, AI systems, plastics, packaging, components for mechanical engineering and much more is under threat.
Unlike oil, helium cannot be replaced quickly due to the limited number of suppliers. And even if attacks on industrial facilities in the Persian Gulf cease soon, it will take several months to restart factories and restore logistics chains, which means that a prolonged "helium famine" may occur, Valery Andrianov believes.
According to Tamara Safonova, CEO of the Independent Analytical Agency for the Oil and Gas Sector, this gas is a critically important component for the production and operation of electronics, in particular UAVs. Its shortage may lead to a change in the configuration of the drone market.
"Shortages can lead to control over targeted use in manufacturing countries, a sharp increase in prices for chips and ready—made UAVs, a reduction in drone production and the need to use technologies without the use of helium,— Tamara Safonova noted.
According to Elizabeth Qi, an analyst at Implementy, helium is almost impossible to replace in the production of semiconductors, so an increase in its cost may lead to an increase in the cost of electronics — smartphones, laptops, computers and other devices. In addition, it is used in MRI machines, and an increase in the price of this gas can affect the cost of equipment maintenance, the creation of new installations and their refueling during repairs. For example, India's healthcare system is already facing problems due to supply cuts, which threatens the availability of services, the analyst stressed.
The largest microelectronics production centers, Taiwan and South Korea, received helium from Qatar, Valery Andrianov added.
— Thus, on a global scale, we can expect an increase in the price of medical procedures (MRI) and almost all electronics, — said the expert.
At the same time, in his opinion, Russia has enough of its own helium for medical needs. However, imported equipment may become more expensive, including due to the shortage of this gas in producing countries, Valery Andrianov concluded.
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