Quick overview

---

The biggest aluminum manufacturer in the Middle East said it could take up to a year for its Abu Dhabi plant to resume full production after an Iranian attack a week ago. According to Emirates Global Aluminium, the Al Taweelah smelter went into emergency shutdown due to significant damage caused by drones and missiles.

The company has completed an initial damage assessment of the facilities in the United Arab Emirates in contact with clients whose shipments may be impacted, according to a statement issued on Friday. The Middle East produces about 9% of the world’s aluminum. The effects of the war are being felt more acutely because production restrictions elsewhere have reduced stocks, leaving the market with little cushion to withstand shocks.

The industry was ready for production cuts because the Strait of Hormuz disruptions affected the raw material flow even before the attacks on EGA’s facilities.

Aluminum prices on the London Metal Exchange have risen by over 10 percent since the start of the Iran War. Al Taweelah, one of the biggest smelters in the world, produced 1.6 million tons of cast metal in 2025.

According to EGA, a final damage assessment might enable other facilities at the Abu Dhabi site, like an alumina refinery and a metals recycling plant, to resume production sooner. “We are working directly with customers whose deliveries might be impacted by the situation at Al Taweelah,” said EGA CEO Abdulnasser Bin Kalban in the statement.