Russia, Georgia & Armenia: Baltika resumes beer exports to Georgia, Armenia

Russia's leading beer maker, Baltika, announced on Monday, July 11, it had resumed exports to the Caucasian states of Georgia and Armenia after nearly a year's break, according to Reuters. Last July, Georgia jailed the head of Baltika's local distributor for three months on accusations that the company had not paid excise charges. Baltika denied this.

Armenian exports also suffered because Baltika delivers beer there via Georgia.

Baltika, jointly owned by Scottish & Newcastle and Carlsberg , said in a statement it had resumed exports this June and had so far delivered over 2,500 hl of beer to Georgia and over 500 hl to Armenia.

The statement said Baltika plans to export over 100,000 decalitres of beer to Georgia before the end of 2005 and take about 4 percent of the country's market. In volume terms, it will be below its 2004 levels of over 13,600 hl.

Baltika said it planned to sell over 3,000 hl of beer to Armenia before the end of the year.