How the Iran War is Affecting Aluminum, Helium, Sulfur and More

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran is disrupting a range of commodities beyond oil and gas, pushing prices up and threatening supplies from aluminum to helium and fertilizer. How badly the world feels those effects will hinge on how long the conflict continues; a cease-fire could reopen shipping lanes, airports and factories.

President Trump has sent mixed messages about de-escalation, and Iran has said it will continue counterattacks and threaten shipping traffic in the Persian Gulf. “Inflation has become a major concern as input costs in many industries are rising,” said Chris O’Keefe, managing director and lead portfolio manager at Logan Capital Management.

“Consumer wallets will likely be crimped.” Aluminum prices jumped to their highest level in almost four years, rising about 8 percent for the month after deliveries from smelters in Qatar and Bahrain were halted. Gulf producers accounted for roughly 8 percent of the world’s supply last year and had a competitive edge because processing requires large amounts of energy.

Iran, Persian Gulf

iran war, aluminum prices, helium, sulfur, fertilizer, shipping lanes, persian gulf, smelters, inflation, trump