In late 2023, Russia stood among the top ten international buyers of alcoholic beverages, based on data from national statistical agencies. The country expanded its imports of alcohol by close to 19 percent, climbing from eleventh to ninth place in the global rankings. Over the course of the year, the Russian Federation spent about 2.2 billion dollars on foreign alcohol, with wine accounting for roughly half of that total and solidifying its position as the leading category among Russia’s imported drinks.
Within the same period, the United States emerged as the largest market for imported alcohol, purchasing around 26 billion dollars worth of foreign beverages and representing about 29 percent of the world’s active import activity in this sector.
England retained its position in second place with imports totaling about 7.2 billion dollars, while Germany completed the top three with approximately 5.3 billion dollars in foreign alcohol purchases during the year.
Other notable entries in the top ten included China with 4.7 billion dollars, France at 3.9 billion, the Netherlands with 3.5 billion, Canada at 3.4 billion, Japan at 2.7 billion, and Spain with around 2 billion dollars in imported alcohol.
Looking ahead, industry observers noted that beer prices in Russian retail outlets could rise by as much as 15 percent in April. The same projections drew attention to potential increases in cognac prices as well, signaling a broader trajectory of upward movement in the cost of several popular spirits in the domestic market. These trends are being discussed by market analysts and are being monitored by consumer groups as part of ongoing assessments of import levels and domestic pricing pressures. [Attribution: National statistical services and market analysis reports, 2023]