Bahrain Aluminium (Alba) and Qatar Aluminium (Qatalum) have declared force majeure due to geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, leading to a rise in aluminum prices. According to Trading Economics data, as of March 5, the spot price of aluminum has climbed to $3,333.50 per ton. Force majeure clauses allow companies to be excused from contractual obligations under unforeseen circumstances. Alba, located in Bahrain, has halted shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, while Qatalum's smelter in Qatar has undergone a controlled shutdown, exacerbating the disruption in aluminum supply.

In 2025, Alba produced 1.62 million tons of aluminum, making it the largest aluminum supplier outside of China. Harbor Aluminium data shows that Bahrain's total production in 2022 was 1.6 million tons, ranking it as the world's sixth-largest aluminum producer, while China's production that year reached 40 million tons. Prior to the supply disruption, Qatalum began a controlled shutdown on March 3, expected to be fully completed by the end of the month. The suspension of natural gas supply has impacted production, with Norsk Hydro stating that restarting operations could take anywhere from six months to a year.

Qatalum's plant has a capacity of 636,000 tons of primary aluminum, and its casting facility has a capacity of 664,000 tons. The rise in aluminum prices is also influenced by trade tensions between the US and China, with aluminum prices reaching multi-year highs in the fourth quarter of 2025. According to a DISR report, the London Metal Exchange noted that aluminum prices increased by 7.3% in Q4 2025, with an average spot price of $2,618 per ton. Aluminum is widely used in transportation and construction industries, including in automotive and aircraft manufacturing, as well as components like window frames and roofing. The supply disruption may have a lasting impact on the global market.