Indian aluminum producers including Hindalco Industries and Vedanta Ltd. are boosting sales to Japan as U.S. sanctions against Russia's Rusal and import tariffs shake up traditional supply routes.
India's product has generally not been regarded as high enough quality by Japan's demanding buyers, who have preferred top-tier producers like Rio Tinto , Alcoa and South32 as well as United Company Rusal.
However, imports of aluminum ingot from India doubled in the first eight months of 2018 from a year ago, Japanese trade data shows, while imports of alloy — which include higher-value products — surged elevenfold off a tiny base.