Important raw material for chip cooling! The Strait of Hormuz "locks" helium, with 64.7% of South Korea's total imports coming from Qatar
The Iran conflict has led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, causing three helium facilities in Qatar to shut down, resulting in a sudden evaporation of one-third of the global helium supply. South Korea relies on Qatar for 64.7% of its helium imports, and bromine sources are also highly concentrated in Israel. The critical raw materials for semiconductors are both in urgent demand, and this Middle East crisis is directly transmitting costs to every chip
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz caused by the Iran war is directly pushing a raw material supply crisis towards the core of the global semiconductor industry chain.
According to a previous report by The Wall Street Journal, three helium production facilities in Qatar have ceased operations, resulting in approximately one-third of the global helium supply disappearing from the market. Helium is an essential raw material for cooling semiconductor wafers, and 64.7% of South Korea's helium imports last year came from Qatar.
The realization of supply chain risks, combined with international oil prices soaring to $111 per barrel at one point, has raised deep concerns in the market regarding the cost pressures and raw material security capabilities of the semiconductor industry.
Analysts point out that if the blockade situation continues, the procurement costs and time pressures faced by relevant companies in the medium term will significantly increase.
Helium Supply "Confirmed Shortage," Potential Risks of Bromine Cannot Be Ignored
The impact on helium supply has evolved from a warning stage to an actual reduction. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on the 6th, three helium production facilities in Qatar have stopped operating. The publication C&EN, under the American Chemical Society, also pointed out that "one-third of the global helium supply has disappeared from the market" since the outbreak of the war, and warned that "if the conflict lasts more than two weeks, the chaos faced by helium users may take months to resolve."
Helium is used for wafer cooling in semiconductor manufacturing and is a necessity in the process. According to data from the Korea Trade Association, 64.7% of South Korea's helium imports in 2025 will come from Qatar. With the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime transport routes for Qatari helium are also obstructed, further increasing the risk of supply chain disruption.
Compared to helium, the supply impact of bromine has not yet entered the "confirmed" stage, but its highly concentrated import sources also raise industry concerns. Bromine is used in semiconductor etching processes, and high-purity hydrogen bromide (HBr) is widely used in the polysilicon etching steps of DRAM and NAND flash memory manufacturing.
97.5% of South Korea's bromine imports come from Israel, making it one of the 14 semiconductor supply chain items with a high degree of dependence on the Middle East. Currently, bromine is still classified as a potential risk factor, remaining in a relatively safe zone compared to helium, but once the situation further escalates, its vulnerabilities will quickly be exposed.
Corporate Response: Inventory and Diversified Supply to Buy Time
In response to supply shocks, South Korean semiconductor companies are relying on prior stockpiling and diversified supplier deployments to seek short-term buffers. It is reported that SK Hynix not only holds a certain inventory of helium but has also secured new supply channels, currently distancing itself from the short-term impact.
However, medium-term risks remain difficult to eliminate. If the cessation of gas production in Qatar and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continue, the cost and time burdens on companies for procuring key raw materials will continue to accumulate. Even if supply is not completely interrupted, switching to verified alternative suppliers will also require time.
According to a comprehensive analysis of brokerage reports from June 6 to 9 by the AI investment information platform Epic AI, the Iran conflict is directly impacting the global energy market through the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and the sharp rise in oil prices, leading to expanded short-term volatility and rising cost concerns in the semiconductor industry Analysts warn that if the conflict becomes protracted, risks such as delays in data center investments, rising financing costs, and global factory shutdowns will still exist. As a country heavily reliant on energy imports from the Strait of Hormuz, South Korea faces additional pressures that cannot be underestimated
