The Tech Download: The sector's Iran problem

Skip the noise. Get the download . The Tech Download The Tech Download: The sector's Iran problem Published Fri, Mar 13 2026 7:52 AM EDT Kai Nicol-Schwarz @in/kains WATCH LIVE Key Points The Iran war has thrown uncertainty over supply chains of key elements needed in chipmaking as well as the long term future of the AI infrastructure buildout in the region. Bromine and helium exports from the Middle East, both crucial for chipmaking, could be disrupted in the case of a prolonged conflict, experts said. Attacks on data centers in the region have brought scrutiny on the security of digital infrastructure. In this article ORCL NVDA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Uncertainty continues to reign over global supply chains and Middle East-based projects as the Iran war nears the two-week mark. In tech, two areas crucial to the artificial intelligence boom have come to the fore: chipmakers and hyperscalers with massive AI buildout projects in countries that neighbour Iran. SK Hynix Inc. 12-layer HBM3E memory chips, front, and a LPDDR5X CAMM2 memory module arranged at the company's office in Seongnam, South Korea, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images Chipmaker supply chain disruption A prolonged conflict could impact the semiconductor sector's access to key materials like helium and bromine, my colleagues Arjun Kharpal and Dylan Butts wrote. Helium is used to transfer heat when chips are made and is critical to the lithography process. Qatar produces over a third of the world's helium supply, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. In 2023, the Semiconductor Industry Association warned of "shocks" to the chip sector if the supply of helium was disrupted. More than 25% of the world's helium supply would be taken off the market by an extended shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, Phil Kornbluth, president of Kornbluth Helium Consulting, told CNBC. Bromine — used in etching processes that cut circuit patterns into wafers — is another...