Middle East smelter attacks trigger global aluminum supply concerns

The aluminum industry is bracing for significant supply-chain repercussions after Iranian strikes hit two major smelters in the Middle East – Emirates Global Aluminium’s (EGA) Al Taweelah complex in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) – on March 28.

Together, the facilities represent roughly 4% of global aluminum and alumina capacity, according to Timna Tanners, managing director of equity research at Wells Fargo. Tanners said the attacks “rattle ali,” noting EGA’s “~1.6 MT/yr smelting, ~2.4 Mt/yr alumina” capacity and Alba’s “1.6 Mt/yr smelting.”