Cargoes of aluminium raw material alumina that were meant for Middle ​East smelters ⁠are being re-routed to China, the world's top ‌producer of the metal, according to ship-tracking sources.

Gulf smelters, which ​accounted for 8.3% of global primary aluminium supply last year, have ​been unable ​to ship material through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with ⁠Iran and some have reduced operations, leaving them with lower alumina requirements.

* The Arianda bulker is waiting to discharge its alumina cargo at Qingdao, in ​northern ‌China's smelting heartland ⁠of Shandong, after ⁠originally being lined up for Aluminium Bahrain , said Kpler ​lead metals analyst Ben Ayre

* ‌LSEG data showed the Liberia-flagged ⁠vessel had reached Qingdao after sailing from Bunbury in Australia

* A second bulker, Belgium-flagged La Selva, was slated to take alumina to Qatalum in Qatar but will now head to China, Ayre said

* LSEG data showed the vessel left Gladstone in Australia on Wednesday and was destined for Yingkou ‌in northeast China.

* Aluminium Bahrain, known as ⁠Alba, and Qatalum did not immediately ​respond to requests for comment

* Alba, which came under attack on Saturday, had already shut 19% of ​capacity, while ‌Qatalum is operating at 60%

(Reporting by ⁠Dylan Duan, Lewis ​Jackson and Tom Daly Editing by Louise Heavens)