--- title: "Middle East conflict raises supply concerns, aluminum prices hit a four-year high" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/282538575.md" description: "The Middle East conflict has led to an increase in aluminum prices, with three-month aluminum futures prices on the London Metal Exchange rising 1.7% on Monday to $3,558 per ton, nearing a four-year high. The U.S. maritime blockade against Iran has raised supply concerns, and market analysts have pointed out the impact of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Aluminum supply is tight, with the spot price premium over futures soaring to its highest level since 2007. Other metal prices have fluctuated, with copper prices rising due to strong demand from China" datetime: "2026-04-13T11:44:06.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/282538575.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/282538575.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/282538575.md) --- # Middle East conflict raises supply concerns, aluminum prices hit a four-year high According to a report by Reuters on April 13, the three-month aluminum futures price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) rose 1.7% on Monday to $3,558 per ton (approximately RMB 23,600), reaching the highest level of $3,578 since March 31, 2022. This increase was triggered by the U.S. announcement of a maritime blockade against Iran, raising concerns in the market about reduced supply from major aluminum-producing countries. The U.S. military announced that starting Monday, it would implement a blockade on all maritime traffic in and out of Iranian ports and coastal areas, following the failure of peace negotiations over the weekend. Market analyst Neil Welsh stated that aluminum prices became the focus of the market early this week, as participants assessed the impact of a full maritime blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Before the U.S. and Israel's attacks on Iran, the Gulf region accounted for about 9% of global aluminum supply, with several smelters, including Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), having suspended operations. EGA stated earlier this month that it could take up to a year for its Al Taweelah smelter to fully resume production, which produced 1.6 million tons of primary aluminum in 2025. Supply concerns were also reflected in the LME spot price premium over three-month futures, which surged 32% to $88 per ton, the highest level since February 2007. Three-month copper futures prices rose 0.3% to $1,288.5 per ton (approximately RMB 87,300), as investors weighed the potential negative impact of rising oil prices on economic growth and metal demand. Copper prices were supported by stronger demand from China, a major consumer of copper. Among other base metals on the LME, zinc prices fell 0.3% to $3,323 per ton (approximately RMB 22,300); nickel prices rose 2.2% to $17,615 per ton (approximately RMB 119,800); lead prices increased 0.1% to $1,923 per ton (approximately RMB 12,900); and tin prices remained stable at $48,000 per ton (approximately RMB 322,600) ### Related Stocks - [601600.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/601600.CN.md) - [000807.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/000807.CN.md) - [AA.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/AA.US.md) - [601702.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/601702.CN.md) - [601677.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/601677.CN.md) - [600219.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/600219.CN.md) - [CENX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CENX.US.md) - [SCCO.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SCCO.US.md) - [FCX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FCX.US.md) - [159880.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159880.CN.md) - [PICK.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PICK.US.md) - [159881.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159881.CN.md) - [159876.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159876.CN.md) - [BCI.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BCI.US.md) - [561330.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/561330.CN.md) - [DBB.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DBB.US.md) - [510170.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/510170.CN.md) - [PDBC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PDBC.US.md) - [GSG.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/GSG.US.md) - [COPJ.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/COPJ.US.md) - [DBC.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/DBC.US.md) - [512400.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/512400.CN.md) - [516650.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/516650.CN.md) - [159871.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159871.CN.md) - [COPX.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/COPX.US.md) - [COPP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/COPP.US.md) - [HGER.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HGER.US.md) - [159608.CN](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/159608.CN.md) - [ICOP.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ICOP.US.md) - [CPER.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/CPER.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [METALS-Copper retreats on slow progress of U.S.-Iran peace efforts](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287200106.md) - [METALS-Copper ticks higher on Chile supply worries and hopes for Iran war deal](https://longbridge.com/en/news/287043513.md) - [METALS-Weak China data pushes copper to one-week low](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286750747.md) - [METALS-Copper falls as investors lock in gains after rally](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286350929.md) - [Aluminum could hit $4,000 a ton amid most bullish set-up in over 50 years](https://longbridge.com/en/news/286896783.md)