(March 18): Aluminum, one of the metals most directly affected by the war in Iran, is struggling to attract buyers in China after prices surged to a four-year high. Stockpiles of primary aluminum have shot above 1.3 million tonnes, the highest since 2020. The brake on demand for primary aluminum is rippling through the domestic supply chain. Aluminum prices surged this month after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered shutdowns and shipping disruptions in a region that accounts for about 9% of global supply. China’s overseas sales of unwrought aluminum and products had already surged 13% in the first two months of 2026.

Source: The Edge Markets March 18, 2026 02:12 UTC