【SMM Aluminum Flash News】Middle East Tensions Threaten South Korean SMEs' Raw Material Supply and Exports

Published: Mar 27, 2026 17:39

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The Middle East tension is affecting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Korea that depend on the region for aluminium and naptha. A report says these firms need support to manage raw material supply and exports. SMEs do not import much overall from the Middle East, but they depend on it for some key materials. According to a report by The Small and Medium Venture Business Research Institute, about 82.8 per cent of naphtha imports come from countries like Kuwait, the UAE and Qatar. Some aluminium products also rely on the region, including scrap (11.2 per cent) and non-alloy ingots (8.8 per cent). This creates a risk of supply problems.

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