Russia’s Whisky Industry Shows Early 2023 Growth Amid Shifts in Import Channels
In the opening months of 2023, Russian whisky production picked up as distilleries scaled up output. This trend emerges from market data shared by industry participants and reported by Kommersant.
During January and February 2023, Beluga Group, known for the Fox & Dogs line, Stellar Group, home to Mancatcher and Steersman, and Ladoga, which markets Fowler’s whisky, emerged as the leading producers in Russia. Beluga Group reportedly produced about 219 thousand deciliters in the first two months, marking a 58 percent rise from the same period a year earlier. Stellar Group significantly expanded bottling, reaching roughly 103 thousand deciliters annually, while Ladoga boosted its volumes to about 102 thousand deciliters, a more than tenfold increase. These figures come from market estimates cited by Kommersant.
The whisky segment faced notable disruption after the start of the crisis in Ukraine, with a 52 percent drop in supply last year to around 1.81 million decaliters. Yet signs of recovery appeared as a portion of popular brands reentered the Russian market through parallel import channels, helping stabilize availability.
Analysts say that demand for homegrown brands in Russia will hinge on product quality and the smooth establishment of distillate import flows. If import processes remain unsettled, consumers might shift away from whisky toward vodka, bitters, and brandy.
On March 9, Kommersant cited its own data indicating that the departure of numerous foreign producers and distributors opened space for Russian importers to gain a larger market share. Beneficiaries highlighted include Beluga Group, Luding Group, X5 Group, and Ladoga. This shift underscores how domestic brands could strengthen their position as supply chains adapt to changing geopolitical and economic conditions.