Middle East Conflict
India makes the aluminium. So why is it unable to make enough Diet Coke cans?
India's Diet Coke shortage in 2026 exposed an unexpected weakness in the country's aluminium industry. Despite being the world's second-largest primary aluminium producer, India struggled to ensure adequate supplies of aluminium cans when disruptions to Middle Eastern shipping affected imports of specialised can-sheet material. The episode highlighted a structural gap in the domestic aluminium value chain: producing the metal is one thing, but converting it into higher-value finished products is another. The shortage emerged during the summer drinking season, when Diet Coke became increasingly difficult to find on Indian shelves. Quick-commerce platforms reported limited availability as shipping disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict affected aluminium supplies through the Strait...
Iran keeps Strait of Hormuz closed as seven conditions stall US negotiations
Iran has ruled out reopening the Strait of Hormuz until the United States meets seven conditions outlined in a June memorandum of understanding, prolonging uncertainty over a critical global energy shipping route as diplomatic efforts continue. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran’s position remained firm, state media reported on October 4. Iran had presented a proposal during the United Nations General Assembly under which normal maritime passage through the strait could resume within seven days if its conditions were met. Washington responded to the proposal last week through Qatari intermediaries. “The position of the Islamic Republic of Iran is completely clear and firm, and the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until our seven conditions, based on the...
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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A report that reveals where the aluminium casting industry is heading and how businesses can act.
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UAE aluminum exports to the US dip 9.8% Y-o-Y; Can EGA restart offset supply deficit?
In the first half (H1) of 2026, the US imported a total of 1.68 million metric tons of unwrought aluminum (HSN code: 7601), of which 16.96% was sourced from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). How has H1 2026 fared for the momentum of unwrought aluminum exports from the UAE to the US? Year-on-year cooling in trade can be noticed, largely owing to the temporary shutdown of the Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA’s) Al Taweelah smelter for repair and maintenance. Explore the production, demand and consumption forecasts of bauxite and alumina in our report: “ Global Bauxite & Alumina Market Forecast to 2036: Supply–Demand, Trade Flows & Price Outlook ” H1 aluminum trade snapshot: 2026 vs 2025 vs 2024 Comparing the H1 2026 figures of unwrought aluminum exported by the UAE to the US, a mixed result...
Hindalco, Vedanta & NALCO shares fall as EGA restarts Al Taweelah smelter; aluminium prices forcast at $2,800/t in CY27
Indian aluminium stocks are under pressure as the restart of Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) Al Taweelah smelter adds to concerns about global supply, while Axis Capital forecasts a market surplus in calendar year 2027 (CY27). Shares of Hindalco Industries, Vedanta Aluminium Metal and National Aluminium Company (NALCO) declined amid a weaker outlook for aluminium prices. Aluminium has retreated from its 2026 high of around USD 3,800 per tonne to approximately USD 3,020 per tonne. Axis Capital expects prices to fall further to USD 2,800 per tonne in CY27, as recovering production and rising Chinese exports weigh on the market. EGA restarts half of Al Taweelah smelter EGA has restarted 631 of the 1,262 reduction cells at its Al Taweelah smelter, with full production targeted for the first...
EGA restarts 50% of Al Taweelah aluminium smelter, targets full production by Q1 2027
Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has restarted 631 of the 1,262 reduction cells at its Al Taweelah aluminium smelter in the UAE, marking a major milestone in recovery efforts following an emergency shutdown on March 28 amid regional security developments that affected operations at Khalifa Economic Zone Abu Dhabi. The shutdown required a full evacuation of the Al Taweelah site, leaving molten aluminium frozen inside every reduction cell. EGA began restarting the first restored cell on May 26 and is now progressing across all three potlines simultaneously, with teams working to restore the remaining cells. Despite the scale of the disruption, EGA continues to expect the Al Taweelah aluminium smelter to return to full production during the first quarter of 2027. Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief...
Aluminium prices return to February levels as supply-chain pressures persist
London Metal Exchange (LME) three-month aluminium prices have returned to just above USD 3,000 per tonne, close to their levels in early February, before US and Israeli military operations against Iran began. However, the apparent stability in prices masks continuing pressure across the physical aluminium supply chain, following Iranian missile attacks on Gulf smelters and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Almost 3 million tonnes of aluminium production capacity has been knocked out by the disruptions. Eight months later, the market appears relatively unconcerned, with traders relying on rising output from Indonesia and increased Chinese exports of aluminium products to compensate for the shortfall until Gulf smelters recover and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz...
Aluminium falls 1.4% as easing Hormuz restrictions raise supply expectations
Aluminium prices declined by 1.4 per cent to INR 320.25 (USD 3.37) as easing restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz reduced concerns over supply disruptions in the Gulf region. According to Kedia Advisory, the decline also reflected expectations of recovering smelter operations, higher Indonesian production and rising Chinese exports. The softer price outlook comes despite falling visible inventories, which continue to provide underlying support to the market. Aluminium exports from Indonesia exceeded 150,000 tonnes in August, while Chinese aluminium exports increased by 17.2 per cent year on year, adding to expectations of improved global availability. According to Citi, accelerating supply growth outside China could shift the global aluminium market from a deficit of...
Australia’s alumina exports fall 9.46% despite China’s 19-fold import surge, with shipments to Indonesia & Oman also rising
Australia, one of the world’s major alumina production and export hubs, witnessed a significant shift in its trade flows in the first half (H1) of 2026. Although the country’s total alumina exports declined, shipments to China surged nearly 19-fold, making it Australia’s one of the largest export destinations. Meanwhile, exports to the UAE and South Africa fell, while Indonesia and Oman recorded increases. Australia exported 6.7 million tonnes of alumina worldwide in H1 2026, down 9.46 per cent from 7.4 million tonnes in H1 2025. Compared with 7.5 million tonnes in H1 2024, exports declined by 800,000 tonnes, or 10.67 per cent, over two years. The contrasting performance across major destinations highlights how Middle East shipping disruptions, changes in aluminium production requirements...
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