US aluminum buyers are urgently seeking alternative sources from Asia as the Iran conflict disrupts Middle East supply chains. With shipments through the Strait of Hormuz effectively halted, Qatar and Bahrain have suspended deliveries to American customers. The US depends on the Middle East for nearly 20% of its aluminum imports, leaving manufacturers scrambling to secure metal for everything from auto parts to beverage cans.

Andy Massey of Bonnell Aluminum said his company is exploring options from India, Australia, and even domestic sources for near-term deliveries. The Georgia-based manufacturer needs to find alternatives within days to avoid production disruptions. Prices have already spiked, with the US Midwest premium reaching $1.065 per pound, matching February's record high. Trump's 50% tariffs on aluminum have compounded the problem, driving up domestic prices and constraining Canadian imports.

Industry experts warn the crisis could worsen a global aluminum deficit this year. Bank of America now projects a 1.5 million ton shortfall, up from 1 million tons, given the Middle East's 9% share of global production. With 6 million tons of primary aluminum stranded in the region and alumina supplies dwindling, some Gulf producers may soon curtail output. The disruption highlights how quickly supply chain vulnerabilities can impact American manufacturers who rely on just-in-time delivery of this essential industrial metal.