Helium supply crisis: West Asia Tensions Impact India Imports

Context: Helium supply crisis

West Asia tensions have disrupted helium supply, a critical gas largely sourced from Qatar, exposing India’s high import dependence.

1. Key Points

1. Helium → inert, non-toxic gas used for MRI, semiconductors, fibre optics
2. Critical for cooling superconducting magnets (no close substitutes)
3. Supply highly concentrated → Qatar is a major global exporter
4. India → fully import dependent on helium
5. Used in strategic sectors → healthcare + electronics

2. Key Data

1. 50% of India’s helium imports → Qatar
2. Qatar share → ~34% global helium exports
3. India demand (2025) → ~3.4 million cubic metres
4. Domestic production → negligible
5. Price rise → ~35–50%

3. Major Imports from Gulf (with Countries)

• Crude Oil → Iraq, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait
• LNG / Natural Gas → Qatar, UAE
• LPG → Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar
• Fertilisers (urea, ammonia) → Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar
• Petrochemicals / plastics feedstock → Saudi Arabia, UAE
• Helium → Qatar
• Sulphur, rock phosphate → Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman