US Aluminum Buyers Hunt for Alternatives as Iran War Upends Global Supply

Aluminum buyers in the US are rushing to secure alternative supplies from Asia as the war on Iran disrupts a major foreign source — a development that threatens to hike the cost of the metal used in auto parts, appliances and beverage cans.

An effective halt on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz has already prompted two top producers in the region, Qatar and Bahrain, to suspend deliveries to customers. The US relies heavily on imports, with the Middle East supplying nearly a fifth of its aluminum last year, according to government data.