07/03/2022

Key stats: Russia’s alcohol market

As vodka comes under the spotlight amidst Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, IWSR takes a deeper look at the Russian alcohol market

Russia is the 4^th largest alcohol market in the world in terms of volume, with imports accounting for 9% of total consumption.

• Whisky makes up 5% of Russia’s spirits consumption, and a third of its spirits imports.
• 91% of Russia’s whisky consumption is from imported whisky

While there have been calls to ban Russian-made goods in light of the country’s invasion of Ukraine, boycotts of Russian vodka brands will have a fairly minimal impact on Russian vodka producers. Any significant impact is more likely to be symbolic.

• While Russia is the largest vodka producer in the world, with over 30% of global production, the vast majority (over 90%) of Russian-made vodka is consumed domestically.
• Outside of Russia, the UK, Germany, the US and Israel round out the top 5 markets for Russian-made vodka, although volumes are relatively small.
• Russian vodka accounts for under 3% of all vodka consumed in Europe (excluding CIS) by volume.
• In the US, the world’s 2^nd largest vodka market by volume, Russian vodka accounts for less than 1% of all vodka consumed.
• Approximately half of all vodka consumed in the US is made in the US.

While vodka is the country’s largest export, Russia is also a relatively large producer of beer and wine – though much of this is consumed domestically.

• Russian beer makes up 1% of the global beer market. Over 99% of Russian beer is consumed domestically.
• Similarly, Russia produces 2% of the world’s still wine, with almost all of it consumed locally.
• Russia also produces 6% of the world’s sparkling wine, with 99% of it consumed domestically.

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