Aluminium gets Iran-style crisis as Rusal shut out of market

The aluminium market is having its own Iran oil moment. Similar to how US and European sanctions in 2012 cut Iran’s oil sales to the world, last week’s American penalties on United Co Rusal look set to freeze the Russian company’s aluminium out of western markets. The reaction has already been severe: prices are up more than 10% and the world’s biggest metals exchange will stop accepting new Rusal supplies.