During just one week, not long after Memorial Day, the industrial gases world suddenly, and dramatically, moved toward becoming collateral damage in the realm of geopolitics.
First, on June 1st, there was the dramatic and controversial announcement by President Trump that the US would withdraw from the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, a move that could cause significant growing pains for the hydrogen fuel economy.
Then, on June 5th, Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. said they would cut off diplomatic relations and close their land borders with Qatar, claiming the Persian Gulf neighbor was supporting terrorism. This was, of course, major news on several fronts in the forever volatile and war-torn Middle East. But it also caused concern for helium, since Qatar produces roughly 32% of that gas’ worldwide supply.
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