WELLINGTON: Possible US sanctions on Moscow over the Ukraine crisis may affect Russia's aluminium industry, Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said on Wednesday.

"It is a very difficult situation Specifically in our business, there could be disruptions primarily in the aluminium industry if we are going to see sanctions," Stausholm told reporters on a results call.

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"You could also see disruptions in the steel industry, but probably less so," he said.