Aluminum Association responds to attacks on Gulf industry infrastructure

The Aluminum Association continues to monitor the ongoing situation in the Gulf region and the implications for the US domestic aluminium industry. On 28 March, both Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) were subject to targeted Iranian attacks. While the current conflict is a global security issue that goes far beyond the interests of any single industry, the association is increasingly concerned about the safety of aluminium workers and broader market impacts.

For reasons of geography, geology and affordable energy availability, aluminium’s supply chains are globally integrated. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries account for a meaningful share of global aluminium production and US imports today.

• The aluminium sector in Gulf Cooperation Council states supply ~9% of global unwrought aluminium (Unwrought aluminium is new or ‘primary,’ unprocessed aluminium generally shipped in the form of ingot).
• Excluding China and Russia, the Gulf represents ~27% of this supply. 
• In 2025, GCC states made up roughly 21% of unwrought aluminium imports and 13% of wrought aluminium imports into the United States, up significantly from 2024 and at or near record levels. (Figure 1) (Wrought aluminium is aluminium that has been ‘semi-fabricated’ through a rolling, extrusion, forging or other process.)
• To date, companies in the region have announced ~500K – 600K of aluminium production curtailments caused by energy availability and other challenges.
• These curtailments were announced before reported attacks on aluminium infrastructure this weekend.

Disruptions in the region – both direct and indirect – are impacting aluminium trade flows and logistics. While markets remain supplied in the near term, continued instability could create longer-term challenges particularly for certain types of primary aluminium products. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has made both shipping aluminium out and shipping input material (like alumina) into the region extremely difficult and recent direct attacks on aluminium facilities are of growing concern.

Aluminum Association president and CEO, Charles Johnson, said, “The apparent targeted attacks on aluminium assets in the Gulf are troubling, and we’re relieved to hear there were no fatalities at these facilities. Aluminium firms are working around the clock to mitigate impacts and adjust operations and supply routes as needed. The association is in close contact with our member companies as this situation evolves and will continue to track developments for market impacts. This industry has a proven track record over more than a century of adapting to regional and global challenges while continuing to meet the evolving needs of our customers.”