China's record buy of Russian aluminum defies EU ban
In February, China purchased Russian aluminum worth $491 million, setting a record high. Russia's share of China's aluminum imports rose to 36.3 percent, marking a significant increase from 26.5 percent the previous year.
In February 2025, China increased its import of Russian aluminum to a record $491 million. According to "Kommersant," Russia's share of the Chinese aluminum market rose to 36.3 percent, a 1.6 times increase compared to the previous year. This is the highest level in the history of bilateral trade exchange.
Besides Russia, the main suppliers of aluminum to China were Malaysia and Thailand, with shares of 11 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively. Overall, Chinese companies increased aluminum imports by 15 percent year over year, reaching a value of $1.35 billion.
Ban on Russian aluminum imports
Meanwhile, the European Union has introduced a ban on Russian aluminum imports, which could impact the global market.
The EU ban covers both primary and processed aluminum, with annual import quotas of 303,000 short tons.
Analysts interviewed by "Kommersant" predict that these restrictions will not significantly affect the operations of Rusal, the primary aluminum producer in Russia.
According to Reuters, throughout 2024, Rusal recorded a net profit of $803 million, which is almost a threefold increase compared to $282 million in 2023.
