31.07.2026 Regulation #China #Export #Bans #World
China imposes temporary helium export ban effective July 10, 2026
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and General Administration of Customs (GACC) jointly issued Announcement No. 29 of 2026 on July 10, 2026, introducing a temporary ban on helium exports. The restriction took effect the day it was published and covers helium under customs code 2804290010, with no stated exemptions by destination market (MOFCOM original announcement).
How the restriction is framed
The measure is based on China's Foreign Trade Law, and the notice itself is notably terse: it states no reasons, sets no expiry date, and simply notes that "subsequent adjustments will be announced separately" (MOFCOM). According to the South China Morning Post, the ban applies to "all overseas shipments" without carve-outs for specific markets; analysts told the SCMP that the measure's purpose is to ensure domestic chipmakers can keep production running amid a severe disruption to global helium supplies (SCMP).
Why Beijing restricts exports of a gas it doesn't produce
The measure is counterintuitive because China itself is a net buyer, not a producer, of helium: more than 80% of its supply comes from overseas, according to commodity data provider SCI99, cited by SCMP (SCMP). TrendForce puts China's import reliance even higher, above 85%, with domestic output of roughly 3 million cubic meters a year — just 1.6% of global supply (TrendForce). Before the ban, China had been importing helium in excess of domestic needs and re-exporting the surplus, effectively acting as a middleman in global trade. The trigger was the escalating US-Israel-Iran conflict, which shut down a major Qatari facility and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — Qatar produces helium as a byproduct of LNG (SCMP).
What it means for importers and the market
Helium under code 2804 is essential for cooling EUV lithography systems: a single tool consumes over 10,000 liters a year, operating near 4 K, where a temperature swing beyond 0.1°C can ruin an entire wafer batch (TrendForce). Consumption rises sharply with node size — from 24 liters per wafer at 90nm and above to 120 liters at 7nm and over 150 liters at 3nm (TrendForce). Beyond chipmaking, the gas is used in MRI machines, aerospace and cryogenics (SCMP). Buyers who relied on China's re-export flows now face a closed channel; the United States remains the leading producer at 81 million cubic meters a year, while the global supply gap briefly exceeded 40% in early 2026 (TrendForce).
What's next for helium buyers
The ban took effect immediately upon publication on July 10, 2026, and is labeled temporary without a set end date — MOFCOM and GACC say further adjustments will be announced separately (MOFCOM). Companies sourcing helium through Chinese channels should shift toward direct contracts with producers in the US, Qatar and Russia and monitor further notices from Chinese authorities.
Primary sources
- Совместное объявление MOFCOM/GACC № 29 (2026) о временном запрете экспорта гелия
- SCMP: China issues temporary helium export ban as Iran war strains global supplies
- TrendForce: China curbs helium exports amid global supply risks
Mentioned codes
This material is for information only and does not constitute legal advice or customs consulting. Verify changes against the primary sources before acting.