New sanctions against Russia will lead to drastic changes in the metal market

After the introduction of new sanctions by the United States and Great Britain against the supply of any Russian metals, significant changes are expected in the market.

Now traders on the London Metal Exchange expect that prices for aluminum, copper and nickel from Russia, produced after midnight on Friday, will jump at the beginning of the week.

There is also an opinion that the forced exclusion of one of the largest metal producers from the market will lead to a widespread increase in prices, despite the fact that supplies of previously produced Russian metal will still end up on the London Stock Exchange.

Although many traders are already used to sharp fluctuations after the reduction of nickel supplies in March 2022 and sanctions against United Co Rusal International PJSC in 2018, comparison with these events is still premature. 

The fact is that Russian metallurgical plants such as Rusal and PJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel are better prepared for the prospect of sanctions, and Russia remains an important producer of metals, providing a significant share of global supplies of nickel (6%), aluminum (5%) and copper (4%).