With aluminum prices up 20%, recycling startups bet on AI to cash in

Key points

• Rising gas prices have been a recurring headline since the Trump administration started its war against Iran in late February, but it’s not the only commodity affected by the conflict.
• Around 10% of the world’s aluminum is made in the Gulf region, so prices of the metal have reached levels not seen in the last several decades.
• Even before the war in Iran, the U.S. government had flagged aluminum as a critical mineral.
• A large share of U.S. demand for aluminum is met by imports, and much of the metal the country does produce is recycled.
• For recycling startups, it’s a good time to be in business.