US Hormuz blockade deepens automotive production crisis As US warships begin blockading Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz, a crisis that has already shattered aluminium supply, driven oil beyond $100 per barrel and disrupted EV raw material chains has entered a more dangerous and unpredictable phase. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Iran ceasefire brings relief, but production scars run deep A two-week pause in hostilities sent oil prices into freefall and markets soaring on 8 April. But for automotive manufacturers confronting shattered aluminium supply, elevated energy costs and deferred investment, recovery has barely begun. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Iran war strikes at the factory floor Three weeks after US and Israeli strikes closed the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict has moved from forecast to fact. Gulf aluminium smelters are shutting down, Brent crude is above $112, Toyota has cut nearly 40,000 units, and Europe's factory energy crisis is accelerating. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Iran conflict sends shockwaves through auto production and supply chains As US and Israeli strikes trigger a near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the global automotive industry faces rising energy costs, fractured shipping routes, and production and supply chain disruptions that could last well into summer 2026. Ilkhan Ozsevim
Iran: US' fresh tariff threats throw global production into turmoil Trump's 25% levies on countries trading with Tehran risk fragmenting production strategies across China, Turkey and India, forcing manufacturers to reconsider investment decisions and factory locations whilst navigating unprecedented policy uncertainty. Ilkhan Ozsevim
