Source: Bloomberg
The Strait of Hormuz closure is exposing concentrated chemical supply chains. Helium, bromine, and sulfur sourced primarily from the Gulf region now face weeks-long delays that constrain semiconductor fabrication. The vulnerability isn't a silicon shortage but specialty industrial gases and processing chemicals that enable chip production. Chipmakers relying on just-in-time inventory and single-region sourcing will face production halts before wafer-level impacts materialize.