DATA CENTRE STRATEGY
Helium storage facility
RIPPLE EFFECTS ACROSS THE BROADER SUPPLY CHAIN
The data centre hardware supply chain is heavily concentrated in Asia, a region now facing rising tail risks from this helium supply tightness. Leading chipmakers based in Taiwan and South Korea are deeply dependent on Qatari exports. In fact, South Korea sourced nearly 65 % of its helium imports from Qatar last year.
Unlike oil, helium is notoriously difficult to stockpile. Because the molecule is so small, it can escape even the most sophisticated storage systems. The global supply chain operates on roughly 45 days of buffer before existing liquid inventory boils off. At times during the conflict, helium prices as much as doubled. Industry experts warned that if disruptions lasted longer, prices could surge by another 50 %, potentially exceeding US $ 2,000 per thousand cubic feet.
While the US and Algeria have some buffer capacity, replacing Qatar’ s vast output in the short term is virtually impossible, leaving the entire data centre supply chain vulnerable to prolonged delays and skyrocketing procurement costs.
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