BAHRAIN SMELTER CUTS OUTPUT AS HORMUZ DISRUPTS SUPPLIES Aluminium Bahrain BSC, operator of the world’s largest single-site aluminum smelter, has begun a phased shutdown of three production lines — about 19% of its 1.6 million-ton annual capacity — to conserve raw materials as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slows sharply. The move highlights growing disruption across the Middle East aluminum industry. Supply bottlenecks have pushed prices on the London Metal Exchange up more than 9% since the Iran conflict began, reaching their highest level since 2022. Regional smelters are struggling to ship metal and secure alumina feedstock, while Alba has already suspended sales to customers amid mounting logistics and energy constraints.(*Walter Bloomberg)