Russia Mulls Scrapping 5% Aluminum Import Duty

Russia’s federal market protection and customs and tariffs commission will next week consider abolishing the 5% aluminium import duty in order to avoid a monopolization of the domestic market by the newly formed United Company Rusal, an economic development ministry official said.

The official said the proposal had been agreed with all the appropriate government agencies.

The United Company Rusal has emerged after a merger of Rusal and Sual, the country’s only aluminum producers, and the government intends to encourage aluminum imports to create competition on the domestic market.