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Russian vodka exports reach 10-year low
Russian vodka and spirits exports hit a 10-year low in 2015, largely attributed to ongoing political tensions with the west and Ukraine.
Reports suggest Russian vodka exports have hit a 10-year low
According to data from the Centre for the Study of Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets, Russian vodka and spirits exports plummeted 42% to 43.5 million litres last year – the lowest figures since 2005.
In value terms, vodka and spirits exports declined 40.2% to £77.4m, according to Russian newspaper Kommersant.
Russian alcohol exports to the US also declined 59% to 9.9m litres last year, according to the centre’s director, Vadim Droby.
Droby said falling oil prices and Russia’s economic crisis meant vodka producers no longer had the finances to distribute and promote their products in international markets.
This, he added, combined with western sanctions against Russia had contributed to the significant declines.
“The sanctions don’t ban vodka, but every entrepreneur’s task is to make money, and he won’t risk his money so your English consumers will have Russian vodka,” he said. “Maybe they’ll ban Russian vodka tomorrow, who knows?”