Rusal Expands Thin Gauge Aluminium Foil Production Capacity

Rusal

Strategic Investments Drive Lightweight Packaging Growth

Rusal expands thin gauge aluminium foil production following a RUB 500 million ($6.24 million) investment at its Sayanal plant. The upgrade enhances the C-3/2 finishing foil mill and increases production capacity by 10–12%. This move is part of a broader strategy to meet rising global demand for lightweight and cost-effective packaging materials, particularly in the food sector.

In addition to the Sayanal investment, Rusal announced that its Ural foil plant will begin producing thin gauge foils for the first time. According to Rusal’s foil division head, Alexey Agafonov, the company plans continued investment at Sayanal to further scale thin foil output. The combined developments signal a significant expansion in Rusal’s ability to supply value-added aluminium products for packaging markets.

Thin gauge aluminium foil—such as Sayanal’s ultra-light 6-micron product—offers key advantages

it reduces the weight and cost of food packaging while maintaining performance. As the global packaging industry shifts toward sustainability and material efficiency, Rusal’s investments position it to capture growing demand in both domestic and international markets. Therefore, Rusal expands thin gauge aluminium foil production not just for capacity gains, but as a long-term strategic pivot toward high-growth end-use sectors.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Rusal’s expansion reflects a clear shift from commodity aluminium toward specialty, value-added applications. With the global packaging market increasingly focused on sustainability, Rusal’s thin gauge foil strategy strengthens its competitiveness and ESG relevance.