By Megan Cheah

Chinese and Hong Kong aluminum stocks rose, as prices of the metal extended overnight gains after a smelter in Qatar said it was halting operations.

Aluminum Corp. of China's Hong Kong-listed shares rose as much as 6.1% to 14.85 Hong Kong dollars in Wednesday morning trading, equivalent to US$1.90. Its Shanghai-listed stock gained as much as 6.3%.

China Hongqiao Group, which manufactures and sells aluminum products, gained as much as 4.85% in Hong Kong.

Nanshan Aluminium added as much as 7.0% in Hong Kong, while Shandong Nanshan Aluminium rose up to 7.9% in Shanghai. The stocks have since pared gains, but are still around 2% to 6% higher.

Elsewhere in Asia, South Korea's Namsun Aluminium rose as much as 15% to 1,347 won, equivalent to 91 U.S. cents, before giving up gains amid a broader market decline.

The moves come as aluminum prices gained amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East, following a strike by the U.S. and Israel on Iran Saturday local time.

The three-month aluminum contract on the London Metal Exchange climbed 1.5% to $3,299.50 a metric ton, extending the previous day's gains.

The conflict has disrupted energy and industrial activity in the region, and has halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical trade route.

Smelters were forced to halt production as sources of energy were cut off. On Tuesday, Norwegian aluminum producer Norsk Hydro said it would fully shut its Qatari smelter by the end of the month, after its joint-venture partner stopped supplying gas amid attacks from Iran. A full restart of the plant could take up to a year, the company said.

Countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council account for around 8% of global aluminum output, but the region produces only around 3% of global alumina and around 1% of bauxite, said ING commodities strategist Ewa Manthey.

This leaves its smelters heavily reliant on imported raw materials, she said in a note. Extended disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would simultaneously choke alumina inflows and aluminum exports for Middle Eastern smelters, tightening global supply meaningfully.

The duration of the disruption at the strait could determine how far aluminum prices and premiums ultimately move, she added.

Write to Megan Cheah at megan.cheah@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 03, 2026 22:49 ET (03:49 GMT)

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