China's Aluminum Exports Surge Amid Gulf Region Supply Disruptions
China's aluminum exports experienced a significant increase in May, as reported by official customs data. This surge is attributed to disruptions in shipment and production in the Gulf region due to ongoing conflict in Iran, which has tightened global supply. China's exports of unwrought aluminum and related products rose by 5.68% in May, reaching 632,000 metric tons. Over the first five months of 2026, these exports increased by 10.4% to 2.69 million tons. The conflict in the Gulf has severely impacted two major aluminum facilities, which account for 8% of the world's output, and has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, primary aluminum output in the Gulf region fell to its lowest in over a decade, with a 35% decrease from the previous year. Despite a global decline in primary aluminum output, China's production rose by 1.5%, reaching 3.68 million tons. 
