As supply instability for raw materials has grown in the wake of the Middle East war, the presidential office said on the 7th that it had secured about four months' worth of helium for semiconductors from the United States and other countries, adding that "there is no problem in the medium term." Qatar LNG (liquefied natural gas) production facilities, which account for 65% of Korea's helium imports, were hit by Iran's attack, but it said a separate contract was signed after recently securing alternative supply lines.
Kim Yong-beom, presidential office policy chief, said at a press briefing that "I heard we secured about four months' worth (of usable buffer) of helium," adding, "It is an extremely important matter, but I was briefed that there is no problem in the medium term for now." He also said, "Considering the four months' worth secured this time, the industry has sufficient time, so we expect they can secure places for alternative imports afterward."
A senior presidential office official said the helium contracted this time is of U.S. origin. Deputy Minister Kim also said, "We have not yet received any request from the industry asking the government for help due to a 'helium shortage.'"
Korea's existing share of U.S.-origin helium imports stands at around 28%, lower than half the share of Qatari-origin helium (64.7%). The United States, along with Qatar, is also cited as one of the world's largest helium exporters. Russia, Algeria, and others also have deposits. However, the United States uses most of its production domestically. In 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) fully halted sales of the federal helium reserve and sold it to private corporations.
Helium, extracted as a byproduct in the gas production process, is a key raw material for semiconductor manufacturing. There is no clear substitute, storage and shipping are demanding, and processing is complex. That is why the global semiconductor industry feared "supply disruptions" after Iran bombed the QatarEnergy LNG plant on the 20th of last month. QatarEnergy said helium exports would decrease by at least 14% due to the war and that restoring production facilities could take up to five years.