Russia just turned the screws on the global helium market, and China is feeling it first. Temporary export controls enacted by Moscow on April 14 require special government approval for helium shipments outside the Eurasian Economic Union, effectively choking off a key supply line for the world’s second-largest economy.
The controls will remain in place until the end of 2027.
What’s actually happening
Helium is a critical industrial gas used in semiconductor fabrication, MRI machines, fiber optic manufacturing, and scientific research. Russia is the world’s third-largest helium producer, accounting for roughly 8% of global output. Its Amur processing plant, strategically located near China’s border, has been a major supply source for Chinese industry. Moscow’s stated rationale for the controls is straightforward: secure domestic supply amid global shortages driven by disruptions in the Middle East.
China imports over 85% of its helium. Lower-grade liquid helium prices in China have jumped approximately 65% since early 2026.
