According to media reports on April 13th, the United States and the United Kingdom announced new trading restrictions on Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel, which may cause turbulence in the global metal market.
The new regulations prohibit the London Metal Exchange (LME) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) from accepting newly produced metals from Russia, and Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel produced on or after April 13th are all prohibited. The United States also prohibits the import of these three metals from Russia. This decision is unlikely to curb Russia’s ability to sell these metals, as sanctions will not prohibit non US individuals and entities from purchasing physical copper, nickel, or aluminum from Russia. Although LME plays a crucial role in setting global prices, the vast majority of metals are traded between miners, traders, and manufacturers without the need to enter LME.