Around the end of 2023, imports of still wine from Europe’s three leading wine‑producing nations to Russia showed a retreat, even though the first half of the year had seen a period of noticeable growth. The coverage highlights observations released by Roskachestvo, framing the development as a noteworthy shift in the Russian wine import landscape as 2023 closed out.
Among the European sources, Spain experienced the steepest drop, with an 11% decrease in still wine shipments. France and Italy also trimmed their contributions, registering reductions of 4% and 1% respectively. This pattern suggests a broader rebalancing in supplier mix as import channels respond to market conditions and regulatory factors that influenced consumer demand and retailer decisions during the period.
In contrast, the BRICS group emerged as a more prominent supplier to the Russian market. The year’s results positioned South Africa as the leading exporter of still wine to Russia, delivering about 10.5 million liters, which represented a roughly 25% year‑over‑year rise. India joined the stream as well, marking its first wine shipment to Russia since 2018. Additionally, Chinese still wine imports expanded substantially, with volumes rising fivefold since 2021, signaling a clear shift toward broader geographic diversification in the country’s wine imports.
Looking ahead to 2024, forecasts point to a continuing decline in the share of imports from countries considered unfriendly, a trend attributed in part to SCT indexation. Industry observers expect domestic production and sales to consolidate a larger portion of Russia’s wine market, potentially reshaping the balance between domestic and imported beverages in the year ahead.
Earlier reports noted that discussions were underway about potentially increasing taxes on wine imports from NATO member states to as much as 200% in certain policy scenarios. Such policy considerations would have meaningful implications for price levels, consumer behavior, and the overall import footprint, prompting stakeholders to watch policy developments closely as the new year unfolds.
Historically, Russia has ranked among the top nations for imported alcoholic beverages, reflecting a long‑standing consumer interest. The evolving import mix and price dynamics continue to influence this standing, with ongoing evaluations by market observers and regulators shaping the evolving landscape of Russia’s wine consumption and trade.