The military conflict in the Persian Gulf is now reverberating through an obscure but critically important corner of the global industrial supply chain: helium, a gas whose unglamorous reputation as a party balloon filler belies its indispensable role in semiconductor fabrication, medical imaging, aerospace engineering, and defense manufacturing.

The shutdown of Qatari natural gas exports, a direct consequence of the Strait of Hormuz blockage and physical damage to Qatar’s liquefaction infrastructure, has abruptly removed approximately one-third of global helium supply from the market, triggering a scramble among industrial consumers that is already driving spot prices to more than double their pre-conflict levels and prompting suppliers to impose rationing measures and force majeure declarations on their customers.

Japan’s government and ruling party officials are considering extending fuel subsidies beyond May. This move comes as a feeble economy and political pressure drive more fiscal spending in the country. The unexpected recession Japan faced at the end of last year, coupled with the loss…

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aiming for an ambitious economic target, aiming to roughly double the country’s economy and exports by the end of this decade. Modi has been emphasizing economic growth as a major achievement in his election rallies, expressing confidence in making…