New Jersey-based Party City plans to close 45 stores, citing in part a global helium shortage that has cost the company sales of metallic and latex balloons.

Headquartered in Rockaway, the chain has about 900 retail stores in the United States and Canada, including 28 across New Jersey. The company has not announced which stores will close.

“Each year, Party City typically closes 10-15 stores as a part of our prudent network optimization process and in response to ongoing consumer, market and economic changes that naturally arise in the business,” James M. Harrison, the company’s chief executive officer, said in a statement Thursday.

“This year, after careful consideration and evaluation of our store fleet, we’ve made the decision to close more stores than usual in order to help optimize our market level performance, focus on the most profitable locations and improve the overall health of our store portfolio.”

The company said the closures will take place throughout the year.

Harrison said the company should secure a new helium source for its stores this summer with a contract expected to last several years.

“We believe this new source should substantially eliminate the shortfall we are experiencing at current allocation rates and improve our ability to return to a normal level of latex and metallic balloon sales,” Harrison said.

Party City designs, manufactures, and distributes party goods, including paper and plastic tableware, metallic and latex balloons, Halloween and other costumes, accessories, novelties, gifts and stationery throughout the world.

The company’s reports its retail operations include more than 900 specialty retail party supply stores (including franchise stores) throughout North America operating under the names Party City and Halloween City, and e-commerce websites.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters.