Russia: Beer import up 38.2% in Q1 2020

According to SeaNews Russian Foreign Trade Customs Statistics online service, in Q1 2020 Russia imported $582.2 mln worth of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, up 2% year-on-year.

Natural grape wines accounted for the largest share of imported beverages amounting to 0.74 mln hl (-13.4%) worth $207.7 mln (-5.3%). The major exporters of grape wine to Russia were Italy, Spain, Georgia, and France.

Import of malt beer increased by 38.2% up to 0.88 mln hl worth $77.9 mln, up 32%. The largest volumes originated from Germany, Czech Republic, Belarus, Mexico, Lithuania, and Belgium.

In the strong alcoholic beverages segment, whisky accounted for the largest share import amounting to 44.15 thousand hl scaled down to 100% alcohol (+5.1%) worth $78.6 mln (+11.6%). The largest whisky exporters to Russia were Great Britain, Ireland, and the USA.