Russia’s wine intake from the European Union climbed to 47.1 million euros in September, a peak not seen since April. The rise came even as government measures increased duties on imports from unfriendly nations. The momentum underscores ongoing demand for European wines in the Russian market despite policy moves that affect cross border trade.
Eurostat figures show the largest uptick came from France. In September Russia imported 1.6 million euros worth of French wine, up from 356 thousand euros in August. German wine purchases nearly doubled to 2.7 million euros, while Spanish wine rose to 2.4 million euros, an increase of about 1.8 times. The data also indicate a broadening of the portfolio, with multiple European suppliers contributing meaningful volumes as buyers adapt to shifting prices and available options.
Italy remains the top wine supplier with 19.5 million euros, followed by Latvia with 10.8 million euros and Poland with 3.7 million euros, according to the latest trade data. The distribution reveals a strong European presence across key supplier countries, with Italy playing a central role in shipments to Russia and other Western European producers maintaining steady access through established distribution channels.
In April, the government raised customs duties on alcoholic beverages imported from unfriendly countries. Beer taxes increased by 20 percent, moving from 0.04 euros per liter to 0.10 euros per liter, while duties on vermouth, sparkling wine and regular wine rose by at least 1.50 dollars per liter. Officials emphasized that the beer tax hike is not prohibitive and serves to level the field for Russian producers, helping to balance competition as domestic production expands.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade noted that the tax changes for beer are part of a broader effort to adjust the regulatory environment in a way that supports local industry while still allowing a range of imports for consumers.
Previously, the Ministry of Finance spoke about the possibility of raising duties on imported wines to 50 percent, a proposal that fits into a larger debate about tariff policy and the incentives it creates for both imports and national winemaking initiatives.