Rusal to secure 30% stake in Chinese alumina company in $261.6 million deal

On October 24, 2023, the Russian aluminium giant and one of the world's leading low-carbon aluminium producers, Rusal, disclosed the news to acquire a 30 per cent equity stake in Hebei Wenfeng New Materials (HWNM), a Chinese alumina producer, for $261.6 million (RMB 1.91 billion).

However, as stated by the company, the pending deal is subject to approval from Chinese authorities and consent from HWNM's creditors, enabling Rusal to acquire alumina at a competitive price.

Rusal's shift towards procuring alumina from China directly responds to the export ban imposed by Australia on alumina and bauxite destined for Russia in March 2022. This ban was enacted as part of the sanctions by Western countries against Russia following the Ukraine-Russia geopolitical crisis.

HWNM presently possesses and manages an alumina refinery located in the northern Chinese province of Hebei, with an annual production capacity of 4.8 million tonnes of metallurgical-grade calcined alumina, as reported by Rusal in a submission to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

In 2022, China significantly increased its alumina exports to Russia, sending a substantial 842,682 metric tons. This marked a substantial 482-fold surge compared to the previous year. According to China's customs data, these alumina exports to Russia in 2022 amounted to $413.4 million.

Rusal announced that they, in collaboration with Hebei Wenfeng Industrial Group, the current owner of HWNM, would divide the alumina production in accordance with their respective equity interests.