Industry insiders: The suspension of production is impacting the already tight aluminum market in the United States.

Middle East aluminum smelters are invoking force majeure clauses, exacerbating the already tight supply in the American market. Felix Jimenez from metal brokerage company Arigato Metals said, "It's very difficult because getting products in the short term is already challenging." This week, both Qatalum and Aluminium Bahrain have informed customers that they are unable to meet their supply needs, driving aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange to multi-year highs. A large amount of primary aluminum needed by American manufacturers comes from smelters in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, making the impact of shipping issues in the Hormuz Strait and damage to industrial infrastructure even more severe. The LME three-month aluminum futures contract has risen nearly 12% this year.