Joe Bavier and Clara Denina, Helen Reid

JOHANNESBURG – Rio Tinto Ltd (NYSE:) received an alumina shipment late March from Russia’s Rusal. It arrived weeks after Rio Tinto claimed it had cut all ties to Russian businesses following the invasion of Ukraine. A Friday analysis of shipping data indicated that on Friday.

It is clear that it can take companies in interconnected economies a long time to fulfill their commitments to Russia.

Rusal, like many Russian corporations, is not subject to sanctions. Oleg Deripaska its billionaire founder is.

Rio Tinto did not comment on the shipment but repeated a statement made March 10, 2010, to Reuters, in which Rio Tinto stated: “Rio Tinto will end all commercial relations it had with Russian businesses.”

Rusal did not respond to Reuters’ requests.

A bulk cargo ship left Rusal’s Aughinish refinery, Ireland on March 24, according to Refinitiv shipping data. This refinery produces aluminium feedstock, alumina.

It traveled north to Iceland and moored in Straumsvik (home of Rio Tinto’s ISAL Aluminium smelter) on March 29. The ship took off from Straumsvik on April 1, and returned to Aughinish where it arrived in the late evening of April 4.

Rio Tinto is told by a source that disengaging business relations with Russia will take time because the company needs to look for alternative sources.

Rio Tinto also delivers bauxite directly from Brazil through its mine at Aughinish. But, shipping data indicates that the company has not yet delivered the ore to Rusal refinery within the past 30 calendar days.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine by Russia – which Russia refers to as a “special military operations” – has wreaked havoc upon Rusal’s supply chains.

Australia is the largest producer of bauxite in the world and has now banned Russian exports.

Rio Tinto stated Friday that it took sole control of Queensland Alumina’s operations and production (OTC:) Ltd. Rusal has a 20% interest.

Glencore (OTC), a trader and miner, said last week that while it will honor pre-existing agreements with Russian entities, it will not be entering into new trading relationships in relation to “Russian origin products”.