The United States announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, further straining aluminum supplies that were already tight due to the Middle East conflict. Aluminum prices subsequently spiked to a four-year high, while market spot premiums climbed to a near-20-year peak.
According to CCTV International News, U.S. President Trump told the media after arriving at Andrews Air Base in Maryland aboard the &#34;Air Force One&#34; special aircraft that the U.S. military would blockade Iran at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on April 13, corresponding to 10:00 p.m. Beijing Time tonight.
After the news broke, aluminum prices rose over 2% on the London Metal Exchange (LME), reigniting the upward trend previously driven by supply shortages. Prices stood at $3,550.50 per tonne, with gains narrowing to 1.49%.
<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/c2e18d3f-d991-4880-8978-85d97e0e4f92.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/c2e18d3f-d991-4880-8978-85d97e0e4f92.png"/>
<h2>Spot Premium Surges, Supply Pressure Emerges in Market</h2>
The most direct manifestation of pressure in the aluminum market is the significant expansion of the premium of LME spot contracts relative to three-month futures contracts (spot premium). This spread jumped 37% compared to last Friday to $91.50 per tonne, the highest level since 2007, indicating buyers are competing for immediate delivery and competition for near-month supply has intensified significantly.
In contrast to the strengthening aluminum price, other bulk metals generally performed flat or weakened. Negotiations between the U.S. and Iran held in Pakistan over the weekend ended in vain, dispersing the optimistic expectations that had briefly boosted market sentiment. Copper prices rose slightly 0.1% to $12,857 per tonne, zinc prices fell slightly 0.1%, and iron ore futures rose 0.8% in Singapore.
Rising energy prices are dragging down the global economy, and bulk metals overall face pressure from weakening demand. The reason aluminum prices moved against the trend was fundamentally the supply-side contraction triggered by war, rather than demand-side pull. This structural difference allowed aluminum to forge a separate trend in the current market environment.

The direct negotiations between the US and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, have broken down. The two sides have significant differences on core issues such as the nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz. US Vice President Vance returned empty-handed, and Trump immediately hinted at resuming military pressure. How far can the ceasefire agreement go, and will hostilities reignite? What are your thoughts?

The direct negotiations between the US and Iran, brokered by Pakistan, have broken down. The two sides have significant differences on core issues such as the nuclear issue and the Strait of Hormuz. US Vice President Vance returned empty-handed, and Trump immediately hinted at resuming military pressure. How far can the ceasefire agreement go, and will hostilities reignite? What are your thoughts?

Negotiations with Iran stalled; US may launch limited strikes against Iran.

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The U.S. military announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, prompting aluminum prices to surge over 2% to a four-year high. LME spot premiums soared 37% to $91.50 per tonne, marking a peak since 2007. The Middle East accounts for approximately 9% of global aluminum output, and the risk of supply disruptions surged sharply. Contrasting sharply with the broad weakness seen in metals such as copper and zinc, aluminum has been forging a rare independent trend among commodities, fueled by war-driven supply contractions

- The U.S. has announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, exacerbating aluminum supply issues due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, causing aluminum prices to rise to a four-year high.  
- Following this news, aluminum prices increased over 2% on the London Metal Exchange, driven by concerns over supply disruptions; the Middle East accounts for about 9% of global aluminum production.  
- Spot premiums have surged, with the premium for immediate aluminum delivery hitting its highest level since 2007, as buyers compete for immediate supply amid weakening demand pressures on other base metals.

Strait Blockade Triggers Chain Reaction, Aluminum Prices Spike to Four-Year High