Maintaining safe and reliable operations, with a focus on employee safety, operational continuity, and the ability to adapt to regional disruptions will be a top priority for Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) in 2026, the company stated in a statement reporting its financial results for Q1 2026
Despite the disruption profits were up by 316% year on year to BD75.3 million (US$200.3 million), with income up at BD76.1 million (US$202.4 million) versus BD16.8 million (US$44.7 million) for the same period in 2025 – up by 353%
The Middle East conflict has introduced increased uncertainty, particularly impacting supply chains and market visibility, the company noted. Sales volume was down 17% year on year to 312,563 MT reflecting the impact of regional disruptions affecting shipping routes, including constraints through the Strait of Hormuz, and net finished production was down 14% year on year to 339,734 MT driven by the controlled & safe shutdown of Lines 1-3 in response to prevailing regional tensions.
Alba responded to the disruption by maintaining its focus on health and safety and business continuity. The controlled and safe shutdown of Reduction Lines 1, 2 and 3 in mid-March,which together represent 19% of Alba’s total production capacity of 1,623,000 metric tonnes per annum, was an operational measure to preserve business continuity amid the supply and transit disruptions affecting the Strait of Hormuz.
This targeted action was designed to optimise the utilisation of Alba’s existing raw materials inventory and prioritise operational stability across its other lines, maintain production resilience, preserve smelter stability, maintain overall system integrity and develop alternatives to reduce exposure to near-term supply volatility.
The controlled and safe shutdown was executed in a manner intended to minimise health, safety, environmental, and operational risks, while safeguarding the long-term performance of the affected assets, Alba said. The safety of Alba’s employees and contractors’ personnel, the protection of its assets, and the reliability of supply to customers remain Alba’s highest priorities.
“The Company continues to closely monitor inventory levels and key operating parameters, with a focus on maintaining safe, efficient, and reliable operations while preserving operational flexibility,” Alba said.
“In parallel, Alba is safeguarding operational continuity through diversified sourcing strategies and flexible logistics solutions, including the utilisation of multiple regional ports and multimodal transport routes for both imports and exports.”
Alba’s chief executive officer, Ali Al Baqali, added, “Alba’s first-quarter performance underscores the resilience and flexibility of our operating model in a challenging external environment. While Net Finished Production and Sales Volumes dropped by 14% and 17% respectively, these movements were driven by constraints across key regional shipping corridors.
“Our focus remains firmly on the safety of our people, maintaining operational efficiency, disciplined cost control, and reliable delivery while actively managing through external developments.”
