Fastmarkets is inviting feedback from the industry on the pricing methodology for its steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Saudi Arabia price, as part of its annual methodology review process.

Roughly 40,000 tonnes per month of copper cathode that once flowed smoothly into the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through Jebel Ali had few options to reroute after the Strait of Hormuz officially closed on Monday March 2, with the only alternative entry points — Khor Fakkan and Fujairah — already straining under the weight of diverted cargo, market sources told Fastmarkets.

QatarEnergy, the state-owned shareholder of Qatar aluminium producer Qatalum, has suspended the production of aluminium as the conflict between Iran, Israel and the US intensified, it said on Tuesday March 3.

European and US primary aluminium premiums could see further upside pressure on supply concerns following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit corridor for Middle Eastern aluminium exports and alumina imports.

Fastmarkets wishes to clarify that it will not publish its assessments for MB-STE-0782 Steel billet export, fob ports Iran, $/tonne and MB-STE-0781 Steel slab export, fob ports Iran, $/tonne for the week of March 2-8, 2026 due to a public holiday in Iran.

The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel since Saturday February 28 have heightened market concerns over potential disruptions to maritime trade routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz – a key transit corridor for Iranian material shipments bound for China.

Senior analyst Andy Farida offers reactive analysis on the impact the Middle East conflict could have on the aluminium market

The publication of the affected price was delayed for 2 hours and 5 minutes. The following price was affected: MB-STE-0940 Steel billet, import, cfr Saudi Arabia, $/tonne This price is part of the Fastmarkets steel physical prices package. For more information or to provide feedback on the delayed publication of this price or if you would […]

The latest GCC containerboard market trends show slight price declines and muted demand across Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with cashflow pressures, rising production costs, and growing local competition shaping January’s performance.

The publication of Fastmarkets’ MB-STE-0909 Saudi Arabia rebar price assessment for Monday February 2 was delayed because of an error. Fastmarkets’ pricing database has been updated. The publication of the affected price was delayed for 1 hour and 45 minutes. The following assessment was published late: MB-STE-0909 Steel reinforcing bar (rebar), domestic, delivered Saudi Arabia This […]