Middle East Conflict
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...
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15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
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15th International Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminium Conference & Exhibition - IBAAS–VFMSTA 2026
ICSOBA 2026 - 44th International Conference and Exhibition
SMM AICE 2026 Southeast Asia Aluminum Conference
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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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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...
Gulftainer and EGA target 300,000t of aluminium exports through Khorfakkan Port
UAE-headquartered Gulftainer and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), the UAE’s largest industrial company outside oil and gas, have signed a strategic agreement to strengthen aluminium exports through Khorfakkan Port on the country’s East Coast, outside the Strait of Hormuz. The agreement comes as EGA continues to diversify its outbound logistics to ensure reliable deliveries to customers in international markets. Under the arrangement, the company will route up to 250,000 tonnes of aluminium through Khorfakkan in the first year, rising to up to 300,000 tonnes in the second year. Volumes could increase further in subsequent years. Khorfakkan Port to support EGA’s export operations The partnership will strengthen the port’s role in handling EGA’s aluminium shipments while supporting the...
US aluminum maker Shapes Unlimited faces up to $5m in extra costs as tariffs and Iran conflict bite
US aluminum product manufacturer Shapes Unlimited faces up to $5 million in additional costs this year as President Donald Trump’s tariffs and rising freight charges linked to the conflict involving Iran add pressure to American manufacturers. The Ohio-based company is among businesses grappling with higher input and transportation costs, while uncertainty over US trade policy and deteriorating relations with Canada complicate planning and expansion. Although some American manufacturers have benefited from higher barriers facing foreign competitors, others are struggling to absorb additional expenses and maintain growth. Doug Rende, chief executive of Shapes Unlimited, told AFP that the combined pressures had become increasingly difficult to manage. “Frustrating would be one word,” Rende...
Macro stagflation concerns combined with weak demand keep aluminium prices consolidating on a subdued note in the short term
SHFE aluminium was not open during the National Day holiday. On Oct 7, LME aluminium 3M opened at USD 3,140.5 per tonne, hit a high of USD 3,148 per tonne, a low of USD 3,101.5 per tonne, and closed at USD 3,125 per tonne, down USD 18.5 per tonne from the previous close, a decline of 0.59 per cent. Futures continued to consolidate on a weak note, with prices breaking below the 5/10/20/40/60-period moving averages. All moving averages exerted downward pressure, confirming a clear bearish trend. Trading volume during the session was 16,383 lots, with open interest at 567,000 lots, up 1,296 lots, driven mainly by bearish positioning. On the daily chart, the MACD death cross persisted, with DIFF below DEA and green bars maintained, indicating bearish momentum was still being released. US...
Hormuz crude flows recover, but aluminium, LNG and fertiliser face a slower return to normal
Middle East crude exports ended September at roughly their pre-conflict levels and exceeded them on several days, according to Reuters. However, the recovery is far less complete for other Gulf commodities. Diesel and gasoline shipments were running at 58 per cent of pre-conflict volumes, while LNG, fertiliser, aluminium and helium were recovering more slowly. The uneven rebound highlights why crude flows alone do not provide a complete picture of trade through the Strait of Hormuz. For commodities with lower margins, limited routing options or specialised infrastructure requirements, the cost of moving cargoes and repairing damaged facilities continues to weigh on supply. Crude can absorb the cost of moving through Hormuz Supertanker rates for voyages from the Middle East to China...
Press Metal profit jumps 51% as Middle East aluminium curtailments lift the premiums
Southeast Asia’s largest integrated aluminium producer extended its record earnings run as higher aluminium prices, regional premiums and Middle East supply disruptions supported performance. Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd has extended its record earnings streak into 2026, with the Southeast Asian aluminium producer posting a 51 per cent year-on-year increase in net profit to MYR 1.43 billion (USD 350.78 million) in 1HFY2026. The company had already delivered back-to-back record profits in FY2024 and FY2025, supported by higher aluminium prices, increased sales volumes and a more favourable cost environment. Its latest performance comes as the global aluminium market remains tight, with RHB Research expecting a deficit of around 900,000 to one million tonnes in 2026. Press Metal’s...
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