Russian exports of unwrought aluminum to Brazil grew 2.9 times between January and August 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Brazilian statistical service reported by news agency RIA Novosti.
Shipments of the raw metal reached 18.6 million dollars over the summer months, doubling the trade volume recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Despite the overall annual growth, export activity slowed towards the end of summer. Deliveries of unwrought aluminum in August fell 2.4-fold compared to July levels and declined by 28 percent compared to August of the previous year. In monetary terms, August shipments dropped to 3.8 million dollars, marking the lowest monthly total since April 2026.
The reduction in August volume pushed Russia down to fourth place among the primary suppliers of unwrought aluminum to the South American market. Russia had previously occupied third position a month earlier.
Top aluminum exporters to Brazil
Argentina remained the leading foreign supplier of unwrought aluminum to Brazil during the period, shipping nearly 30 million dollars worth of the metal. Venezuela ranked second with exports valued at 15.5 million dollars, followed by India in third place with 4.6 million dollars. Spain ranked fifth behind Russia, delivering 1.9 million dollars of raw aluminum.
Brazil and Russia are fellow member states within BRICS, an intergovernmental coalition of major developing economies formed to deepen commercial ties and political cooperation. Unwrought aluminum refers to primary metal cast into unworked shapes such as ingots, billets, or slabs directly after smelting. Industrial manufacturers process these raw forms into structural materials, transport components, electrical wiring, and consumer packaging.
Brazil operates as the largest economy in South America, relying heavily on foreign trade to supply raw materials for its domestic manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Russia stands among the world's prominent producers and exporters of primary metals, industrial minerals, and chemical fertilizers.
Bilateral trade across agricultural sectors
The increase in aluminum sales forms part of a broader expansion in trade between Russia and Brazil across several commodity groups in 2026. Brazil imported 531.7 tonnes of Russian fish products earlier in the year, representing a fourfold increase compared to the previous annual volume. Export earnings for Russian seafood suppliers rose 17-fold, bringing total sales value to 2.69 million dollars.
Brazilian buyers also expanded purchases of Russian mineral fertilizers during the first five months of the year. Between January and May 2026, export terminals operated by logistics company Port Alliance dispatched nearly one million tonnes of fertilizer cargo to ports across Brazil.
