Iran launched attacks targeting two Gulf aluminum producers, Bloomberg reported on March 28. Emirates Global Aluminium, the region's largest producer of aluminum, said its Abu Dhabi facilities suffered "significant damage," and Aluminium Bahrain, another large producer, said it was assessing the damage from strikes on its facility.

While Gulf companies — primarily Alba and EGA — only produce about 9% of the global aluminum supply, the market entered 2026 in a precarious state. In the United States, stockpiles have already substantially eroded due to 50% tariffs on imported aluminum and shifting supply chains, as the United States has shifted most of its aluminum imports away from Canada and toward the Middle East, despite lengthy transit times.