#helium

On July 10, 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce and General Administration of Customs announced a temporary ban on exports of helium (HS code 2804290010), citing the Foreign Trade Law of the People's Republic of China. This decision could significantly tighten global helium supply, which is already strained due to Middle East conflicts, affecting critical industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, medical imaging, and scientific research. The ban takes immediate effect, and any future adjustments will be announced separately. Helium is essential for cooling extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) machines and as a carrier gas in wafer processing.