News & Market Analysis: European Aluminium Urges EU To Address Russian Aluminium Sanctions Loophole

Industry association European Aluminium has called on the EU to introduce a targeted indirect ban on Russian aluminium in the bloc's next sanctions package, warning that a significant loophole continues to allow Russian metal to enter the EU market via third countries despite existing direct import sanctions.

The industry association's campaign, branded #NoSecondPassport, argues that Russian primary aluminium can currently be sold to third-country producers, processed into semi-finished or finished products, and then exported to the EU as goods originating from that third country rather than from Russia. European Aluminium says this undermines the effectiveness of EU sanctions, sustains Russian export revenues, and places unfair competitive pressure on European producers that have already moved away from Russian metal.

Aluminium exports generated almost $10 billion in revenue for Russia last year. Türkiye is highlighted as the clearest example of the loophole in practice. Russia supplied around 20% of Türkiye's primary aluminium imports in 2025, making it Türkiye's second-largest supplier.

The association wants any indirect ban backed by stronger enforcement mechanisms, including mandatory reporting of the first and second largest country of smelt and the last country of cast, so customs authorities can trace the upstream origin of aluminium entering the EU; targeted customs checks on high-risk third-country imports; ongoing monitoring of import flows from countries known to import large volumes of Russian aluminium; and specific scrutiny of billets, extrusions and other semi-finished products.

European Aluminium also flags the Gulf supply crisis as a factor increasing the risk of substitution toward Russian metal. Türkiye relied on Gulf countries for around 42% of its aluminium ingot imports in 2025, and the association warns that continued instability in the region, or further upward pressure on global aluminium prices, could push Türkiye and other third countries to increase their reliance on discounted Russian supply. European Aluminium argues this risks weakening Europe's aluminium industrial base at a moment when strategic autonomy in critical raw materials is increasingly tied to defence, clean energy and broader industrial resilience.