Silent Helium Crisis: Hormuz Blockade Threatens Tech, Healthcare, and Aerospace

• Middle East conflict and Strait of Hormuz blockade trigger a severe, less visible helium supply shock.
• Qatar's shutdown, responsible for 30-33% of global supply, halts production due to attacks and export route closures.
• Semiconductor manufacturing, healthcare (MRI machines), aerospace, and research face critical disruptions.
• Helium cannot be stockpiled long-term, with only a 45-day buffer, making shortages acute and difficult to mitigate.
• Rising prices and limited alternatives highlight vulnerability of global supply chains to geopolitical shocks.