Gulf Cooperation Council countries produce ~6,159K metric tons of aluminum annually, making the region the 4th-LARGEST producer globally, according to the International Aluminium Institute.

By comparison, China leads at 44,219K, followed by Europe at 7,059K and Asia ex-China at 4,859K.

Iran's strikes on Persian Gulf aluminum plants have already sent prices surging over +10% since the start of the war.

Meanwhile, Emirates Global Aluminium, the region's largest producer, says it may take up to 12 months to restore full output at its Al Taweelah smelter in Abu Dhabi after an Iranian missile and drone attack forced an emergency shutdown.

Al Taweelah is one of the largest smelters in the world, producing 1.6 million tons of cast metal in 2025, or ~2.3% of global output.

The Middle East now represents ~9% of global aluminum production, but the impact is amplified because constraints elsewhere have already eroded inventories, leaving the market with little buffer.

Aluminum is used in everything from airplanes to food packaging and solar panels, meaning disruptions ripple far beyond the metals market.

This is no longer just an energy crisis, it is an industrial one.