{"id":2578784,"date":"2026-03-11T18:18:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shipping-disruptions-spread-beyond-oil-helium-sulfur-and-semiconductors\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:21:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:21:39","slug":"shipping-disruptions-spread-beyond-oil-helium-sulfur-and-semiconductors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shipping-disruptions-spread-beyond-oil-helium-sulfur-and-semiconductors\/","title":{"rendered":"Shipping disruptions spread beyond oil: Helium, sulfur, and semiconductors"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fshipping-disruptions-spread-beyond-oil-helium-sulfur-and-semiconductors%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2578784&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The piece explains that disruptions in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are spreading beyond oil to other critical commodities that feed semiconductor production and agriculture. Since the start of the Iran conflict, the strait has functionally narrowed or closed, driving up prices for oil and natural gas and affecting the flow of goods such as helium, sulfur, bromine, and fertilizers. About 20 million barrels of crude and oil products pass through the strait daily, accounting for roughly one-fifth of global supply, and the halt is contributing to broader economic strain, including higher costs for chipmaking materials. Helium, essential for cooling semiconductors, is heavily sourced from Qatar (nearly 40% of the world\u2019s supply), sulfur from Gulf producers (around 45% of global exports), and bromine from Israel and Jordan; together with fertilizer components like ammonia and urea, these inputs are integral to electronics and agriculture. Prices for fertilizers and related chemicals have risen,with urea up about 30% recently and substantially higher year over year,prompting warnings from U.S. farmers about income pressure. The article also notes policy responses, such as IEA\u2019s large oil releases to counter price hikes, and U.S.measures proposed to insure ships moving through the strait. It also mentions ongoing tensions,including recent projectile incidents near Iran affecting vessels in the area.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Shipping disruptions spread beyond oil: Helium, sulfur, and semiconductors<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2528547\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The pause in shipping through the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4481648\/lloyds-london-talks-trump-plan-backstop-ships-strait-of-hormuz\/\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> is creating economic disruptions beyond the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/\">oil and natural gas<\/a> markets, affecting the shipment of goods and commodities needed for semiconductors, fertilizer, and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Since the start of the war in Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/europe-faces-gas-trouble-as-war-strains-supplies\/\" title=\"Europe faces gas trouble as ... strains supplies\">key trading route<\/a>, has been effectively closed. The most notable effect has been a sharp rise in the price of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/4476989\/iran-conflict-threatens-raise-gas-prices-strait-hormuz\/\">oil<\/a> and natural <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4479298\/natural-gas-prices-surge-worldwide-iran-conflict-supply\/\">gas<\/a>, for which the strait is a key global trade route. Before the conflict, nearly 20 million barrels of crude oil and other oil products passed through the strait every day, about a fifth of the total global supply.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4488095\/nevada-governor-lombardo-warns-california-climate-rules-fuel-supply\/\">Nevada governor warns California climate rules threatening regional fuel supply<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4487778\/iea-record-release-400-million-barrels-oil-prices-iran-war\/\">IEA announces release of record 400 million barrels of oil to counter war price hikes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4486819\/republican-pat-harrigan-bill-taiwan-energy-security-chinese-threats\/\">Republican proposes bill to bolster Taiwan&#8217;s energy security against Chinese threats<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>But the halt in traffic through the strait has also had major effects on other segments of the economy, such as interfering with chipmakers&rsquo; ability to obtain chemicals needed to manufacture semiconductors.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">About 20 million barrels of crude oil and other oil products pass through the Strait of Hormuz daily, making up 20% of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-stonewalling-gop-asking-about-iran-sanctions-report\/\" title=\"Biden Stonewalling GOP Asking About Iran Sanctions: Report\">global oil trade<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-helium\">Helium<\/h2>\n<p>South Korean chipmakers, such as Samsung and SK Hynix, rely on helium to manage heat during semiconductor production. Qatar provides <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/pubs.usgs.gov\/periodicals\/mcs2025\/mcs2025-helium.pdf\">nearly 40%<\/a> of the world&rsquo;s supply and has relied on the strait to export its materials.<\/p>\n<p>More than a quarter of global helium supply would be taken off the market if the strait remains shut down, Phil Kornbluth, president of Kornbluth Helium Consulting, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/03\/10\/iran-war-semiconductor-memory-chip-impact.html\">told CNBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-sulfur\">Sulfur<\/h2>\n<p>The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran are producers of sulfur, which is used as an acid to clean semiconductors. <\/p>\n<p>The price of sulfur in China, which is the world&rsquo;s largest consumer, has increased by 15% since the start of the war, the <em>Financial Times<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/dd2498cc-d221-4645-9fae-34d1d832c15d?accessToken=zwAGTMRHiT-wkdPdJJjM0iFGRdOfrjTR2DLBXQ.MEUCIDyPdj0LLyT6ysfDfkhF0Cj_Tghv6o-o_LZE0FVzCwQtAiEA57Cp2mkrh_3YyfJuKoI1Y-Dw6wlBwx2_1NN0_khMATo&amp;sharetype=gift&amp;token=acb840e8-ec6d-4e08-ad5c-3026c104bf25\">reported<\/a>. About 45% of the world&rsquo;s sulfur exports come from the Gulf.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bromine\">Bromine<\/h2>\n<p>Bromine is another element that is part of the semiconductor manufacturing process, which has been affected by the closure of the strait, with leading producers being Israel and Jordan.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fertilizers\">Fertilizers<\/h2>\n<p>The fertilizer supply chain has also been disrupted. The United Nations Trade and Development said that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/unctad.org\/publication\/strait-hormuz-disruptions-implications-global-trade-and-development\">nearly one-third<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-chinas-push-to-control-u-s-food-supply-prepares-it-for-war-with-taiwan\/\" title=\"China&#039;s efforts to dominate US food ... for potential Taiwan conflict.\">global seaborne trade<\/a> in fertilizers passes through the strait.<\/p>\n<p>Exports of key fertilizer components have been disrupted, including ammonia, urea, sulfur, and nitrogen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The U.S. imports a significant amount of urea, a nitrogen-based fertilizer. In the last month, urea&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/tradingeconomics.com\/commodity\/urea\">price has risen<\/a> 29.71%, and is up 52.15% compared to the same time last year. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The American Farm Bureau Federation <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fb.org\/files\/AFBF-Letter-to-POTUS-Fertilizer.pdf\">sent a letter<\/a> to President Donald Trump earlier this week, warning that the spike in both fuel and fertilizer prices could hurt farmers, who are facing &ldquo;a generational decline in farm income driven by out-of-control inflation and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >dramatically declining crop prices<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Like oil, global fertilizer markets are highly vulnerable to disruptions in maritime transit routes, especially through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping corridor for key fertilizer materials and finished fertilizer,&rdquo; the letter reads.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4487778\/iea-record-release-400-million-barrels-oil-prices-iran-war\/\"><strong>IEA ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF RECORD 400 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL TO COUNTER WAR PRICE HIKES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump has sought to encourage ships to move through the strait, including by announcing a $20 billion plan providing <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4481648\/lloyds-london-talks-trump-plan-backstop-ships-strait-of-hormuz\/\">insurance for ships<\/a> in the strait.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday morning, though, three vessels were hit by projectiles off the coast of Iran, according to the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ukmto.org\/recent-incidents#0a95b82e-ad0a-4c8d-a6a1-59ab5f577957\">United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hormuz halt disrupts oil, helium, sulfur, chips<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3511,"featured_media":2578785,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26031231509809_87bfc0.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[75592,21187,9328,17056,12122],"class_list":["post-2578784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-helium","tag-semiconductors","tag-shipping","tag-sulfur","tag-supply-chain"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26031231509809_87bfc0.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3511"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2578784"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2578788,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578784\/revisions\/2578788"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2578785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}