Russia Increases Base Metal Exports to China by Over 50% in 2025

Russia's exports of base metals to China have surged dramatically in 2025, highlighting Moscow's deepening economic reliance on Beijing amid Western sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. Aluminum shipments to China increased by nearly 56% to almost one million tons in the first five months of 2025, while copper exports rose 66% and nickel shipments more than doubled. This shift comes as the EU has imposed a phased ban on Russian aluminum imports, and the US and UK have restricted Russian metals from major trading platforms like the London Metal Exchange and Chicago Mercantile Exchange, forcing Russia to redirect exports primarily to Asian markets. Bilateral trade between Russia and China exceeded $240 billion in 2024, with China replacing Europe as Russia's key trading partner. Major Russian producers such as Norilsk Nickel and Rusal, though not directly sanctioned, face trading restrictions and are expanding cooperation with Chinese firms to boost metal exports. This realignment of global metals trade flows represents a fundamental and likely permanent restructuring driven by geopolitical tensions and regulatory barriers imposed by the West.