China Chemical New Materials Sector: Helium Prices Likely to Stabilize While Upside Is Priced In; Downgrade Huate Gas to Neutral
Report Coverage
- Broker
- UBS
- Region
- China
- Sector
- Information Technology, Electronic Equipment, Basic Chemicals
- Report Type
- Industry Report
- Primary Focus
- China helium market supply-demand dynamics and valuation assessment of electronic specialty gas companies
Report Summary
UBS analyzes the helium market roller coaster in H1 2026, where prices surged 455% on Qatar shutdowns and Russian export controls before retreating 50%. The bank expects helium prices to stabilize at Rmb200-300/cbm in H2 2026 as Russian supply increases, and downgrades Huate Gas to Neutral while maintaining Buy on Guanggang Gas.
Key Takeaways
- Helium prices peaked at ~Rmb500/cbm in April 2026 due to Qatar facility shutdowns and Russian export controls, but retreated to ~Rmb250/cbm by June as Russian supply eased and Amur phase II ramped up
- Huate Gas downgraded from Buy to Neutral as its 73x 2027E PE is above the 70x peer average and upside is fully priced in; price target raised from Rmb93 to Rmb200
- Guanggang Gas maintained at Buy with PT raised from Rmb29 to Rmb42 (55x 2027E PE, below 70x peer average), driven by industry-leading bidding capabilities in IC on-site gas projects
Why This Report Matters
Helium is a critical input for semiconductor manufacturing, and its supply chain is highly concentrated and geopolitically sensitive. Understanding price dynamics and which Chinese electronic gas companies are best positioned to benefit from localization trends is key for investors tracking China's semiconductor self-sufficiency push.
Topics Covered
Companies Mentioned
Who this summary is for
This summary is for users researching the UBS China Chemical New Materials Sector report. It helps users review China Chemical New Materials Sector: Helium Prices Likely to Stabilize While Upside Is Priced In; Downgrade Huate Gas to Neutral coverage, key takeaways, and related broker or sector research paths across Helium supply chain, Electronic specialty gases, Semiconductor materials; Huate Gas, Guanggang Gas.
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