Iran war jolts aluminum supply, but alternative shipping and Chinese output curb price spike

The war in Iran has triggered one of the aluminum market’s biggest supply shocks, heightening fears of an abrupt squeeze in global availability. Market participants worried that a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could leave Middle Eastern smelters short of feedstock within weeks and force production shutdowns. Producers in China and the Middle East have eased some of the pressure by rerouting logistics, but expectations for tighter supply in the near term have strengthened and are feeding into spot and futures prices.