Ireland's Aughinish Alumina supplies record alumina shipments to Russia, prompting calls for tougher EU sanctions

Ireland’s sole producer of aluminium oxide, Aughinish Alumina, exported a record share of its output to Russia in the first quarter of 2026. According to Irish statistics, about 83 % of the country's alumina exports – roughly 200,600 tonnes – went to Russia, the highest volume since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The plant, owned by Russian aluminium giant Rusal, supplies raw material used in the production of aluminium for aircraft, automotive and defence sectors.

The material is not currently covered by EU sanctions, prompting Irish foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee and EU diplomatic chief Kaja Kallasová to call for tighter measures. They argued that “no European products should end up in drones and rockets that kill Ukrainian civilians.” An Irish investigation is ongoing, with the company disputing the official export share, saying the figure may be closer to 51 % or 45 % of its production. EU officials are weighing whether to close the loophole while balancing potential impacts on European industry that relies on the same raw material.

The debate highlights the challenge of restricting resources that have both civilian and military uses and could affect future sanctions policy toward Russia.