US Resumes Russian Aluminium Imports in September After Year-Long Hiatus

The United States imported Russian aluminium in September 2024 for the first time in over a year, according to US customs data analyzed by RIA Novosti. During this month, US companies purchased 798 tonnes of unprocessed aluminium from Russia for $1.9 million, marking the first such delivery since August 2023.

The largest metal import from Russia in September was platinum, with purchases hitting a three-month high of $88.4 million—a sixfold increase compared to August. Meanwhile, imports of Russian titanium saw a significant decline, falling 1.6 times to $1.4 million.

In April 2024, the US imposed a complete ban on imports of Russian aluminium, copper, and nickel, as well as on trading these metals on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). Despite this ban, an exception was made for metals produced before April 13, 2024, which allowed the September aluminium import.

Leonid Khazanov, an independent expert, commented that the September aluminium delivery was likely a one-off transaction. He suggested that the shipment may have been facilitated by documents proving the aluminium's production before the April cutoff date, possibly involving Rusal or a related trader. Khazanov also noted that it is unlikely the US market will fully reopen to Russian aluminium anytime soon, given the current political climate. He further highlighted that Rusal will likely focus on increasing supplies to China and other markets, though this may result in reduced revenues as consumers could demand significant discounts.