Middle East aluminum risk by product and company, Part 1: EGA/Alba

Military strikes on major aluminum facilities March 28 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have introduced a new layer of uncertainty into a market that was already operating with limited flexibility.

While the immediate reaction has centered on headline capacity at Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the more relevant question for US buyers is narrower: Which alloys, forms, and specifications are tied to those and the broader Persian Gulf region? And are they difficult to replace?

Nicholas Bell

Nicholas brings over half a decade of experience covering metals markets, pricing trends, and supply chain dynamics. Prior to joining AMU, he reported on aluminum, high-temperature scrap, and ferro-alloy markets at Argus Media, with additional coverage of minor metals and rare earths. His work has built deep expertise in North American metals pricing and trade flows. A native of Houston, Nicholas holds a bachelor’s degree in Media Production and an MBA with a concentration in Finance, both from the University of Houston.