Australia announced it's banning exports of aluminum ores, including bauxite, and alumina to Russia, effective immediately. The ban will limit Russia's ability to produce aluminum, "a critical export for Russia," the ministry for foreign affairs said in a statement.

of alumina imported by aluminum major UC Rusal IPJSC is from Australia. Rusal is the world's largest alumina consumer outside China and the ban will mean Rusal and Russia will struggle to maintain normal aluminum production levels.

Rio Tinto Group announced it was terminating commercial relationships with any Russian business. Rusal will not be allowed to import alumina from Queensland Alumina Ltd., its joint venture with Rio Tinto in Australia, of which Rio Tinto owns 80%. Rio Tinto's spokesperson said its priority "remains the well-being of our people, our communities and the continued safe operation of our businesses, in full compliance with all governmental directions, including the Queensland Alumina Ltd. joint venture."

Australian alumina producer South32 Ltd. made the "values-based decision at the outset to cease commodity sales to Russian entities" in response to the invasion of Ukraine, a spokesperson told Commodity Insights. "And we have been working through the commercial implications ever since." The company decided earlier in March that it would not enter into any new transactions or business relationships with Russian entities, the spokesperson said.

Alcoa Corp. announced that it would cease buying raw materials from, or selling products to, Russian businesses "in response to the current aggression against Ukraine." "In keeping with this decision, Alcoa of Australia does not have any sales contracts for the supply of alumina with Russian entities, and we have processes in place to ensure we comply with trade sanctions imposed by governments around the world, including Australia," an Alcoa spokesperson told Commodity Insights in a statement.