Beijing said the temporary ban is intended to prevent domestic shortages as renewed Middle East fighting threatens supplies of the gas used in semiconductor manufacturing.

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 on shipments of the gas, a crucial raw material in semiconductors and other sectors, comes as Middle East conflict stretches stocks.

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…