Russia shrugs off EU ban on its aluminium imports, says it will seek alternative buyers

MOSCOW, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Russian Industry and Trade Minister Anton Alikhanov on Thursday shrugged off the likely impact of an European Union ban on primary aluminium imports from Russia, the state TASS news agency reported.

It cited him as saying that Moscow had itself cut its aluminium supplies to Europe in recent years and would look for other buyers.

EU envoys agreed a 16th package of sanctions on Russia on Wednesday over Ukraine. The package is expected to be adopted by the bloc's foreign ministers on Monday.

"I think it (the ban) is not particularly sensitive. Given the fact that we have been reducing supplies there for the last few years. We will look for substitute markets," TASS quoted Alikhanov as saying.