Closing the Strait of Hormuz Disrupted 30% of the World's Helium. But There's a Silver Lining for 1 AI Chip Stock.

An Iranian missile strike on Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG complex knocked out ~17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity and disrupted about one-third of global helium supply — a key coolant in chip manufacturing. The shortage disproportionately threatens South Korea’s Samsung and SK Hynix, which rely heavily on Qatari helium (South Korea imports ~64.7% of its industrial helium from Qatar). Micron, however, has significant U.S. manufacturing and diversified helium sourcing (including a $250m Air Liquide facility planned in Idaho), so it should face smaller supply and margin pressure. With Micron reporting a 196% year-over-year revenue jump in Q2 2026 and strong margins and balance-sheet metrics, the author argues Micron is best positioned among memory producers to weather helium-driven disruptions and could outperform its South Korean rivals amid the shortage.