OREANDA-NEWS While the EU is forcefully rejecting Russian energy supplies, China and South Korea are buying aluminum from Moscow. Despite the loud statements, Brussels has also found a way to get its way, but a strong word from the United States can change everything.

Moscow is actively increasing aluminum supplies to the East. Data from the national statistical services show that in the first six months of 2025, China and South Korea increased purchases of Russian metal by almost half in annual terms.

Beijing remains the main importer of Russian raw aluminum, with China purchasing three billion dollars worth of metal in the first half of the year, compared with 1.8 billion a year earlier.

Seoul has also recently become one of the most significant aluminum markets for Moscow. Imports increased to $632.6 million from $365.85 million a year ago.

Khadzhimurad Belkharoev, Associate Professor at the Institute of World Economy and Business at the RUDN University Faculty of Economics, explains the dynamics of stable industrial enterprises and the developed automotive industry in these countries.

"Asian consumers, primarily China's industrial giants, highly value the quality and reliability of Russian aluminum supplies, and competitive prices make the raw materials attractive to the region's developing economies," said Namer Radi, Deputy head of the Committee for International Cooperation and Exports at Opora Russia.