China's record Russian aluminium imports defy EU ban
In February, China purchased Russian aluminium worth approximately $491 million (approximately €453 million), setting a record high. Russia's share of China's aluminium imports rose to 36.3 per cent. This is a significant increase compared to 26.5 per cent the previous year.
In February 2025, China increased its import of Russian aluminium to a record $491 million (approximately €453 million). According to "Kommersant," Russia's share of the Chinese aluminium market rose to 36.3 per cent, representing a 1.6 times increase compared to the previous year. This marks the highest level in the history of bilateral trade exchange.
Besides Russia, the main suppliers of aluminium to China were Malaysia and Thailand, with shares of 11 per cent and 10.5 per cent, respectively. Overall, Chinese companies increased aluminium imports by 15 per cent year over year, reaching a value of $1.35 billion (approximately €1.2 billion).
Ban on Russian aluminium imports
Meanwhile, the European Union has introduced a ban on Russian aluminium imports, which could impact the global market.
The EU ban covers both primary and processed aluminium with annual import quotas of 275,000 metric tonnes.
Analysts interviewed by "Kommersant" predict that these restrictions will not significantly affect the operations of Rusal, the primary aluminium producer in Russia.
According to Reuters, throughout 2024, Rusal recorded a net profit of $803 million (€741 million), which is nearly a threefold increase compared to $282 million (€260 million) in 2023.
