Taiwan chipmakers pivot helium supply amid Iran war

伊朗戰爭期間，台灣晶片製造商調整氦氣供應策略

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan chipmakers are pivoting helium supply sources following disruptions linked to the war in Iran after an attack on Qatar’s Ras Laffan helium complex, per CNA.

The Ras Laffan helium complex in Qatar, attacked by Iranian drones on March 2 and later by ballistic missiles on March 18, suffered extensive structural damage and currently has no plans to restart. The disruption has tightened the helium supply and added uncertainty to global semiconductor production and operations.

Taiwan chipmakers use helium in advanced semiconductor processes such as precise temperature control for wafer cooling and leak detection. SEMI Taiwan President Terry Tsao (曹世綸) said helium can still be sourced from the US and Canada, ensuring overall supply and preventing semiconductor manufacturers from facing production shutdowns.

Tsao said Qatar is a major global supplier of helium, and the incident has impacted current supply, driving up prices and prompting some customers to adjust procurement volumes. He said the short-term impact on the semiconductor industry is mainly increased costs, along with some disruptions to procurement and logistics, but the overall situation remains manageable.

Tsao said alternative supply from the US and Canada can ensure stable overall helium availability, and semiconductor manufacturers will not face production shutdowns. He added that large Taiwanese chipmakers have strong alternative procurement capabilities and have largely established gas recovery and recycling systems, giving them a degree of resilience and mitigating short-term impacts.

However, he warned that if the conflict is prolonged, risks could spread from helium to the broader petrochemical chain, including raw materials such as methanol, polyethylene, and polypropylene, and could also increase costs for some chemicals and industrial materials.

Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association President Wu Chih-i (吳志毅) said that as a semiconductor powerhouse, Taiwan should maintain helium and other critical gases at levels comparable to oil reserves to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Wu said helium is used in large quantities for heat dissipation and as a carrier gas, while its usage is relatively smaller for leak detection. He added that although manufacturers have helium recovery systems in place, a certain percentage is still lost.

He said the disruption to operations in Qatar currently poses no immediate threat to semiconductor factory production. However, manufacturers are closely monitoring developments in the US-Iran war and implementing risk management measures.