Aluminum prices are surging. Here's how companies are handling the costs

A Coors Light can and a Ford F150. Gabby Jones | Bloomberg | Brandon Bell | Aluminum 's surge to multiyear highs in the wake of the U.S-Iran war is creating cost pressures for the businesses that manufacture everything from cars to beer cans. Aluminum on the London Metal Exchange has surged more than 13% since the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. The commodity is now up around 19% so far in 2026 and has touched its highest levels since 2022 this year. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Aluminum in 2026 Prices are being driven higher by the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz , a key passageway for the delivery of aluminum coming from the Middle East, according to Bernstein analyst Bob Brackett. He estimated that 7% the world's aluminum is sourced from the region. Military strikes have damaged facilities and taken about 3% of the world's supply off the market, the analyst said. Impact to businesses At Ford , Chief Financial Officer Sherry House said the Iran war is clouding the automaker outlook's for aluminum, a key component of its F-150. The Detroit-based producer was expecting commodity headwinds to top $2 billion — roughly double the previous estimate — due largely to higher price tags for aluminum, House said. "It's going to be a bit hard to be able to predict 2027 at this point given the volatility that we've seen in the commodities," House told analysts late last month. …