Russia reports steep decline in spirits imports

Russia has witnessed a sharp drop in spirits imports as the value of the ruble continues to weaken and tensions with Ukraine remain.

Russia has witnessed steep declines in imported spirits

Citing customs statistics, The Moscow Times reports that whisky imports to Russia fell 22.4% in 2015 to 33.59 million liters and rum imports dropped 35% to 4.76 million liters.

Wine and sparkling wine were also greatly impacted, falling 32.6% and 33.7% respectively.

However vodka imports were hardest hit in the year, falling “almost four times in 2015”, the report states. This decline has been attributed to a ban on importing vodka from the Ukraine amid long-running political tensions.

The Russian Federal Service for Consumer Control halted imports of Ukrainian vodka and beer in 2014 amid claims they violated consumer rights.

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

It was revealed earlier this month that Ukraine had extended its list of Russian items banned from being imported into the country to vodka.

In addition to the political impacts on imports, international spirits producers selling in Russia have been hit by currency volatility as the ruble continues to weaken.

February last year saw the Russian government implement its u-turn on rising the minimum price of vodka sold in the country.

The minimum retail price was introduced in 2009 as part of a government crackdown on binge drinking, a major cause of death among male adults in the country.