Aluminum prices rose sharply on Wednesday on news that the EU may refuse to import aluminum produced there as part of new restrictions against Russia. The bloc is currently discussing the next, 13th sanctions package, which it plans to adopt by February 24 - the day of the start of the ETS. Politico was the first to report the news, Profinance.ru reports.

During yesterday's trading, quotes for the metal added 3.20%, rising to $2228.00 per ton. Their growth outpaced copper, which rose in price by 2.10%. At the beginning of the year, aluminum lagged behind other metals - in January it lost more than 5%.

Earlier, in December, the UK banned its individuals and organizations from trading in a number of Russian metals - aluminum, copper and nickel. Clients and employees of the LME were still able to make transactions with them on the exchange, but physical deliveries are excluded, the portal writes. The EU refused to import aluminum semi-finished products from Russia in the previous package of sanctions.