Iran's war has not only raised oil prices, but also the prices of a wide range of products, from semiconductors to party balloons, due to disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Nearly one-third of the world's helium and fertilizer supplies pass through this waterway. Since the war began, spot prices for helium have doubled. Qatar's state-owned energy company halted liquefied natural gas production in the early days of the war and is expected to take several months to resume operations. The country is an important producer of helium, a byproduct of liquefied natural gas production, which is heavily dependent on helium for semiconductor manufacturing. The Trump administration has begun to acknowledge these downstream effects. Agriculture Secretary Roberts said on Friday that "the President is very aware of these challenges and issues" and promised to provide assistance measures for farmers soon. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly refused to answer questions about the impact on the helium market, but acknowledged that the Trump administration has developed plans for the agricultural industry and said, "These impacts are temporary, and better days are ahead for our great farmers."
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Original: toutiao.com/article/1859707039774795/
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