CHARBONE CORPORATION, a vertically integrated industrial gases company, has announced the expansion of its dedicated helium delivery fleet from one unit to five, enabling accelerated service to North American customers amid tightening global supply. The company, which also produces ultra-high purity hydrogen and other strategic industrial gases, is leveraging its vertically integrated infrastructure and decentralized production model to address urgent demand from sectors such as semiconductor manufacturing and healthcare.
Recent geopolitical disruptions, including damage to Qatar's Ras Laffan complex—historically responsible for approximately one-third of global helium supply—and restrictions on Western shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, have driven significant price volatility across North American markets. Reported helium spot prices have increased substantially, creating an urgent need for reliable domestic supply sources. Charbone's helium division, launched in 2025, established supply capability ahead of these disruptions, allowing the company to secure long-term customer commitments through 2028 that insulate North American operations from volatile international shipping dependencies.
The company's growth is reflected in its rapidly expanding customer base and logistics capacity. The dedicated helium trailer fleet increased from a single unit in Q4 2025 to five today, with the capacity to add five more within months. Charbone has added 22 new helium customers across Quebec, spanning laboratories, advanced manufacturing, and technical services. The company continues to deploy recurring revenue streams across UHP hydrogen, helium, and oxygen, supporting portfolio diversification.
“We were prepared to scale helium production well before recent supply disruptions materialized. With trailers on order and agreements in place, we've grown our dedicated helium fleet from one unit to five and remain positioned to add five more within months to meet this surge in demand,” said Patrick Cuddihy, Senior Vice-President of CHARBONE.
The shortage has also acted as a strategic market entry tool. Industrial gas buyers are typically permitted to seek secondary suppliers when their primary providers cannot deliver, enabling Charbone to capture market share from established competitors facing supply constraints. Management expects these new helium relationships to eventually facilitate cross-selling of hydrogen and oxygen products.
While Charbone’s helium division continues to benefit from the production setbacks at Qatar's facilities—which require rebuilding after drone and missile attacks in March 2026—and ongoing shipping constraints, the company remains in continuous commercial production at its Sorel-Tracy flagship hydrogen plant. With Phase 1B scale-up currently underway, Charbone is focused on delivering sustained sales growth across its decentralized North American network.
In a separate announcement, Charbone has engaged IMPAQ Capital Inc., an independent service provider based in Montreal, Quebec, to deliver investor relations services. The agreement is for an initial term of ten months, effective July 13, 2026, and will automatically renew for successive three-month periods unless terminated. IMPAQ will receive a monthly cash fee of $8,500 and has been allocated 300,000 stock options at an exercise price of $0.15, with 25% vesting quarterly over a two-year period. This engagement, combined with Charbone's existing US-based investor relations firm RB Milestone Group, positions the company to strengthen its footprint with North American investor communities.
Charbone Corporation is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: CH), the OTC Markets (OTCQB: CHHYF), and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: K47). More information is available at www.charbone.com.
