U.S. aluminum prices are surging as tariffs and Middle East conflict squeeze supplies. Bud Reitnouer, whose company Reitnouer Trailers has built aluminum flatbed truck trailers for 43 years, now faces unprecedented cost pressures. Each trailer requires about 4,500 pounds of aluminum, making the metal his biggest expense.

Higher U.S. tariffs on imported aluminum have already pushed prices up over the past year. Now, the war in Iran has disrupted shipments from Persian Gulf countries, which supply about one-fifth of America's imported aluminum. The fighting that began in late February has curtailed most aluminum shipments from the region.

Reitnouer's experience illustrates how geopolitical events compound trade policy impacts on American manufacturers. With supply chains already strained by tariffs, the sudden disruption from the Middle East conflict leaves companies scrambling for alternatives. The combination threatens to drive prices even higher for manufacturers dependent on aluminum, potentially forcing them to pass costs to customers or seek substitute materials.