Nearly three weeks into the US and Israeli war on Iran, supply chain disruptions are affecting far more than oil and gas. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, halting shipments of aluminium, helium, sulphur and urea—commodities critical to aerospace, semiconductors, fertiliser production and medical imaging. Aluminium prices have jumped to multi-year highs, Qatar has stopped helium output after attacks on its LNG facilities, and fertiliser shortages threaten global food supplies. Analysts warn the longer the disruptions continue, the greater the chaos across industries. Al Jazeera's Um-e-Kulsoom Shariff reports from Doha, Qatar. Credit Al Jazeera 17 3 2026
Nearly three weeks into the US and Israeli war on Iran, supply chain disruptions are affecting far more than oil and gas. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, halting shipments of aluminium, helium, sulphur and urea—commodities critical to aerospace, semiconductors, fertiliser production and medical imaging. Aluminium prices have jumped to multi-year highs, Qatar has stopped helium output after attacks on its LNG facilities, and fertiliser shortages threaten global food supplies. Analysts warn the longer the disruptions continue, the greater the chaos across industries. Al Jazeera's Um-e-Kulsoom Shariff reports from Doha, Qatar. Credit Al Jazeera 17 3 2026