Shipping constraints, sanctions and policy changes continued to disrupt commodity flows across the Middle East. The UAE’s indefinite suspension of trade with Iran increased uncertainty for regional steel routes that traditionally rely on Jebel Ali. Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea restrictions kept freight and insurance costs elevated. Aluminium, steel, ferro-alloys and raw-material markets all faced uneven availability, while buyers remained cautious about committing to seaborne cargoes.
