Aluminum, helium supply shortage weighs on Korean electronics industry

The protracted war in the Middle East is causing supply disruptions and pushing up prices of critical raw materials such as aluminum and helium, weighing on Korean manufacturers of electronic home appliances and semiconductors. According to the London Metal Exchange, aluminum was traded at $3,406.50 per ton in cash settlement as of Monday, up about 8 percent from $3,157.50 on Feb. 27, a day before the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The price hike came amid growing concerns over supply disruptions following Iran’s repeated threats to close the Strait of Hormuz after the U.S.-Israel airstrikes. The strait is a key shipping route for oil and other major commodities, including aluminum. Aluminum produced in the Middle East accounts for about 9 percent of global production, but the share rises to around 22 percent when China, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of the global output, is excluded. Because most of the region’s aluminum is exported, and a large portion is shipped to Europe and the U.S., disruptions there can have a significant impact on global supply andWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times