Vodka sales increased by almost 5% in March%

In March 2026, retail sales of vodka in Russia increased by 4.95% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 5.83 million decaliters. This was reported on April 15 by the newspaper Kommersant, citing data from Rosalokoltabakkontrol (RATK).

"The total sales of all types of alcohol in Russia, excluding beer, cider, poire and mead, according to RATK, in January-March 2026 amounted to 47.97 million dal, in March — 16.25 million dal," the publication says.

At the same time, sales of still wine in three months fell by 3% (to 12.59 million dal), low—alcohol products — by 58.3% (to 204.9 thousand dal), liqueur wines - by 7.2% (to 247.4 thousand dal).

Pavel Shapkin, head of the Center for the Development of National Alcohol Policy, attributed the growth in sales of spirits to the flow of consumers from the beer segment, which traditionally accounts for 80% of all alcohol. According to him, due to the decrease in purchasing power, consumers are betting on the degree, not on the volume.

Sober calculation: why customers choose liqueurs instead of ready-made cocktails

Sales of low–alcohol products in January-February fell by 61%

Since the beginning of the year, Russia has reduced beer imports from the European Union (EU) to the lowest level since 2004. According to statistics, at the beginning of the year, beer imports from the EU to Russia amounted to €763.6 thousand, which is seven times less than in January 2025, when the volume of purchases reached €5 million. The figure was the lowest since February 2004, when it amounted to €741.6 thousand.

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