Ukrainian vodka production dips amid Russia ban

Production of Ukrainian vodka decreased by 10% in August after Russia announced a ban on imports of the spirit, reports have claimed.

Production of vodka in the Ukraine has slowed as Russia imposes a ban on imports of leading brands

Citing figures from the Ukraine State Statistics Service, Ukrainian News reports that production of vodka in the country decreased by to 14.7 litres in August 2014 compared to July.

In the same month, Russia announced that it had banned imports of Ukrainian vodka and beer from certain producers which were apparently found to violate consumer rights.

The Russian Federal Service for Consumer Control, Rospotrebnadzor, highlighted alcoholic beverages produced by Global Spirits-owned Ukrainian Distribution Company, a major vodka distributor, did not correspond to the volume fraction of alcohol and organoleptic characteristics.

Ukraine News also reports that In August 2014 Ukrainian vodka production decreased by 17.2% compared to the same period last year.

Ukraine exported US$230 million of alcohol to Russia in 2013, with vodka accounting for US$92m.

The ban follows that of a Sazerac-owned Bourbon, Kentucky Gentleman, which according to Rospotrebnadzor, contained signs of phthalates organic chemicals.

So far trade sanctions imposed by Russia on western agricultural products have not included beer, wine or spirits, although Scotch producers are concerned a ban may be imminent and potentially damaging to sales.