EU imposes anti-dumping duties on Russian aluminium foil

The European Union imposed anti-dumping duties on imports of Russian aluminium foil on Friday after its investigation showed the product was sold across the bloc at below market prices, the EU's Official Journal said.

A definitive anti-dumping duty of 12.2 percent will be levied on aluminium foil from Russia, which is all made by the Rusal group, the world's largest aluminium producer.

"The (European) Union industry suffered material injury, which was reflected most notably in the negative profitability almost during the entire period considered," the Official Journal said.

The European Commission had already imposed provisional anti-dumping duties on Russian aluminium foil imports in July.

Definitive anti-dumping duties normally last five years. Rusal said in an emailed statement that it considered the decision "unfair and based on unjustified conclusions".

"The company is considering its options, which may include contesting the decision in the EU courts and under the World Trade Organization disciplines," it said.

The Commission launched its investigation last October after receiving a complaint from several European producers of aluminium foil.

The aluminium market is suffering from oversupply, putting downward pressure on prices. Benchmark aluminium prices on the London Metal Exchange have slumped nearly a fifth this year.

The EU's relations with Russia are strained over the Ukraine crisis, which led the EU to impose economic sanctions on Moscow and Russia to respond with a ban on most Western food imports.