India’s aluminium makers win Japan sales

Playing safe: Making aluminium ingots at the foundry shop of the Rusal Krasnoyarsk aluminium smelter in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. Consumers prefer multiple suppliers to ensure some security of supply.

TOKYO: Indian aluminium makers including Hindalco Industries and Vedanta Ltd are boosting sales to Japan as US sanctions against Russia’s Rusal and import tariffs shake up traditional supply routes.

India’s product has generally not been regarded as high enough quality by Japan’s demanding buyers, who have preferred top-tier producers like Rio Tinto, Alcoa and South32 as well as United Company Rusal.