China’s Aluminum Exports Surge to Fill Global Shortfall From War

Chinese aluminum exports surged in May, helping fill a global shortage caused by war in the Middle East. Crude oil imports continued to slump, dropping to an eight-year low, as the conflict chokes shipments from major producers.

Outbound cargoes of aluminum climbed 16% from the previous year to 630,000 tons, according to customs data on Tuesday. Smelters in the world’s biggest producer have maximized output to capture more international sales, after the war halted supplies from a key producing region and rallied prices.

The damage to export facilities and severe constraints on vessels in the Persian ...