Anyone working in a research lab or radiology department knows the uncomfortable feeling when supplies run tight. But what is happening right now in the global helium market is a different scale entirely — and it is hitting laboratories and clinics directly.

Qatar Missile Strikes Just Wiped Out a Third of Global Helium Supply

In late February 2026, missile strikes from Iran hit Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, which is the world’s largest LNG export hub. The impact was immediate because Qatar supplies about one-third of the world’s helium. After the attack, QatarEnergy stopped all production and said it wouldn’t restart until it was safe to ship through the Strait of Hormuz. Right now, that route is effectively blocked due to the ongoing conflict, and there’s no clear idea of when things will return to normal.

The result: approximately 30 percent of global helium supply went offline, almost overnight. Some suppliers in the US have already notified customers of delivery cuts of up to 50 percent.

NMR and MRI Machines Run on Helium — And There Is No Quick Substitute

For many of its applications, helium simply cannot be replaced. Superconducting magnets used in NMR machines and MRI scanners need extremely low temperatures, close to absolute zero, which only liquid helium can provide.

In simple terms, an MRI machine uses about 1,500 liters of liquid helium to keep its magnet working and needs refilling over time. If the helium runs out, the machine doesn’t just stop working — in serious cases, the magnet can get damaged permanently.

For NMR labs, the situation is equally serious. Rising helium costs had already forced university NMR facilities in the US to shut down in recent years. What was a slow-moving problem before can escalate quickly now.

For labs whose instruments are still running, every measurement counts. Using correctly matched NMR and EPR tubes — right glass type, right frequency rating — reduces failed runs and the need to repeat experiments, which matters when operating time is limited.

The numbers tell the story: helium prices have surged 50 to 70 percent since the conflict began. Healthcare is now competing directly with the semiconductor industry — currently the single largest consumer of helium globally, driven by demand for AI chips. Hospitals operating on regulated pricing and thin margins are structurally outgunned in that bidding war.

Liquid Helium Cannot Be Stockpiled Like Oil or Grain

Liquid helium cannot simply be stockpiled. To transport liquid helium, you need highly specialized containers that maintain near absolute zero temperatures, and there are only about 6,000 such containers worldwide. These containers can hold helium for roughly 45 days before it begins to warm up and evaporate. Helium supply chains cannot absorb delays the way oil or grain markets can. This makes the supply chain very fragile, as it can’t tolerate delays.

Currently around 200 cryogenic containers are currently stranded in or near Qatar. They cannot be refilled elsewhere. Every unit sitting idle does not just represent lost helium — it removes transport capacity from the entire global network at the same time.

Steps Labs and Clinics Should Take Before the Shortage Reaches Them

Waiting is not a strategy. Facilities that act now give themselves room to maneuver:

Evaluate helium recovery systems: Modern reclamation systems can recover up to 90 percent of used helium. For facilities without one, the investment calculation looks very different at today's prices than it did two years ago.

Take stock of current inventory honestly: How long will current reserves last? When is the next scheduled refill — and is that timeline still realistic? These questions need answers now, not in three months.

Contact suppliers directly: Waiting for the next routine delivery may not be safe. Direct communication with your helium supplier gives you a clearer picture of availability and any allocation limits already in place.

Rethink workload priorities: Can certain experiments or diagnostic procedures be prioritized, postponed, or run with alternative methods temporarily? A clear-eyed look at the current workload can help protect the most critical operations.

GC labs currently running helium as a carrier gas can switch to hydrogen or nitrogen without major instrument changes — and many are already making that move. Our gas chromatography (GC) capillary columns work smoothly with all three carrier gases.

The Crisis Is Not Here Yet — But the Window to Prepare Is Closing

Phil Kornbluth, one of the leading helium market analysts, put the situation plainly: it is like a sunny day on the beach while a tsunami is building offshore. There is no physical shortage at the end-user level just yet. But those who wait will have fewer options later.

In the longer run, the industry is moving toward helium-free alternatives. Philips, GE HealthCare, and Siemens Healthineers are all developing MRI systems with drastically reduced or zero helium requirements. But those systems do not replace the existing installed base overnight — and in the short term, they do nothing to ease the current supply crunch.

At Haeberle Labortechnik, we understand the pressure this situation creates for research institutions, hospitals, and analytical labs. If you have questions about NMR accessories, vacuum technology, or how to adapt your lab workflow during this period — we are here to help.