Beijing has decided to temporarily halt exports of helium, a key chemical that is essential to modern chip manufacturing, to stabilize the domestic supply chain.

China will impose a temporary ban on the export of helium under relevant provisions of its Foreign Trade Law, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

The ban will come into effect immediately and appears to apply to all overseas shipments.

China has imposed a temporary ban on helium exports effective immediately, as resumption of military conflict in the Middle East threatens to trigger new shortages of the gas…