Ireland’s statistics agency has corrected earlier figures detailing alumina exports to Russia, but the updated data still identifies Russia as the primary single destination for shipments from the country’s sole alumina producer, the Rusal-owned facility in County Limerick.
According to the revised figures, during the first three months of 2026, just over half of the plant’s alumina exports went to Russia, while 39.22 percent headed to European Union markets. The remaining shipments went to other non-EU countries.
For the full year of 2025, original statistics had indicated that 66.8 percent of Irish alumina went to Russia. The corrected data now shows that 43 percent, equivalent to 775,985 tonnes, was sent to Russia, while 38.3 percent, or 689,785 tonnes, went to EU nations.
The earlier numbers came under scrutiny after government ministers disputed them, stating the refinery had informed them that only 45 percent of exports went to Russia. Plant officials later acknowledged providing incorrect figures to the statistics office due to what they described as a clerical error.
Even with the downward revision, Russia receives significantly more Irish alumina than any specific EU country. France emerged as the second-largest recipient in the first quarter of 2026, taking 77,156 tonnes for its Dunkirk smelter, while Sweden received nearly 70,000 tonnes during the same period, where Rusal also operates a smelter.
These developments come as Irish authorities prepare to submit a review of the refinery to Brussels. Sources familiar with the document indicate it will state that authorities cannot definitively rule out Irish-produced alumina reaching Russian military supply chains due to insufficient evidence. However, the review is not expected to conclude that material from the Limerick plant is being used in Russia’s weapons manufacturing.
The report is being compiled by officials within Ireland’s business department, though the minister has not yet received a final version. No plans for nationalizing the refinery are currently under consideration, as legal advice suggests the necessary threshold for such action has not been met.
Ukraine’s diplomatic mission in Ireland stated it looks forward to the investigation’s conclusion and discussions with Irish authorities, emphasizing its commitment to preventing Irish economic activity from supporting Russia’s war efforts.
These adjustments follow a recent European Parliament vote supporting a non-binding resolution calling for a ban on alumina exports to Russia. That vote intensified pressure following an earlier journalistic investigation that traced Irish alumina to Russian smelters connected to supply chains serving sanctioned weapons manufacturers, though reporters could not connect a specific batch to any particular weapon.