SEOUL/TAIPEI -- The Middle East crisis is casting a pall over Asia's chip supply chain as concerns mount that the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz could drag on, making it difficult for South Korea and Taiwan to procure helium, liquefied natural gas and other resources.
Strait of Hormuz shutdown constrains flow of key materials and LNG to Asia
Helium is a key material in the chipmaking process, used for cooling wafers. © Reuters
NAMI MATSUURA and HIDEAKI RYUGEN