The April 2026 supply chain environment for electronics and semiconductors was defined by compounding disruptions across raw materials, labor, and geopolitical fronts. The most severe risk emerged from the helium supply crisis, triggered by Iranian attacks on Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which removed nearly a third of global helium supply. This led to immediate price surges of 40–100% and threatened semiconductor manufacturing, especially for advanced nodes and AI chips (Forbes, 2026-04-07; Business Today, 2026-04-27). Major producers in South Korea and Taiwan, including Samsung, SK Hynix, and TSMC, were forced to pay premiums and accelerate recycling initiatives, but these measures only partially offset the disruption (Intellectia AI, 2026-04-28; Data Center Dynamics, 2026-04-21).