Texas distributor’s US-domestic sourcing allows continued acceptance of new commercial helium customers
FLOWER MOUND, Texas, August 21, 2026 — Southwest Gases, a regional industrial gas distributor headquartered in Flower Mound, Texas, announced today that it continues to accept new commercial helium customers across Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth despite the national helium shortage that has forced several major US suppliers to declare force majeure and cut customer allocations.
The helium supply disruption intensified in early March 2026 when operations at Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City were disrupted by regional conflict, affecting roughly 30 percent of global helium supply. A series of force majeure declarations followed across the US industrial gas industry beginning in March 2026, cutting many customers to a fraction of their contracted volumes and adding surcharges above previously agreed pricing. Spot helium prices have risen up sharply since the crisis began. Recent Wall Street Journal reporting has indicated that the physical shortage has not yet fully materialized in the US market, with prices surging on expectations more than on actual inventory depletion.
The disruption has particular consequences for the technology sector. Helium is essential to semiconductor manufacturing, where it cools processing equipment and detects leaks in extreme ultraviolet lithography systems. It is also used in fiber optic manufacturing and quantum computing systems, while helium-based cooling is being explored for specialized high-density data center applications. With four major US technology companies projected to invest about $650 billion in AI infrastructure in 2026, semiconductor and technology customers have become priority accounts for helium suppliers, which has left many smaller commercial buyers scrambling to find supply.
While much of the industry has deprioritized or declined new customer accounts to protect existing contracts, Southwest Gases has continued to accept new commercial helium customers across its Texas service area. The company invested in diversified helium supply relationships and expanded inventory buffers as regional supply conditions became less stable in early 2026. The sourcing shifted toward US-domestic supply, diversifying away from Middle Eastern supply routes. Southwest Gases has been able to serve schools, party retailers, welding shops, research laboratories, and event venues that were turned away by their previous suppliers.
“We have had schools, small businesses, and event operators call us in the last several weeks after being turned away by their previous suppliers,” said Rudy De La Fuente, principal at Southwest Gases. “Our team saw the supply conditions in the Persian Gulf region becoming less stable in early 2026 and invested in additional inventory and diversified supply relationships specifically so we would not have to turn away customers during a supply crisis. That decision is paying off right now for the customers who need us.”
Southwest Gases is accepting inquiries from commercial helium customers across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and the greater Houston, Austin, and San Antonio markets. The company supplies helium in cylinder sizes ranging from party service through commercial and industrial volumes, and serves end markets including retail balloon and party stores, semiconductor and electronics operations, welding and metal fabrication shops, and research laboratories
About Southwest Gases
Southwest Gases is a Texas-based industrial gas distributor headquartered in Flower Mound, serving commercial customers across Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth. The company supplies helium, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, CO2, propane, and specialty gases along with welding equipment and safety supplies. Southwest Gases has built a diversified multi-source supply chain designed to maintain customer service during industry disruptions. For more information, visit https://southwestgases.com/helium-supplier-texas/.
