DatawatchNikkei analysis finds Taiwan, Japan, South Korea turning to America for chipmaking gasThe U.S. has emerged as the top supplier of helium to Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where tech companies rely on the gas to churn out chips. (Nikkei montage/Source photo by Kyodo)CHENG TING-FANGJuly 13, 2026 15:00 JSTTAIPEI -- The U.S. has become the top source of helium for Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and could gain even more market share as the Iran war and Chinese export restrictions squeeze global supplies of the key chipmaking gas, a Nikkei Asia analysis of customs data shows.