Russia: Beer sales up 2% in January-August but overall alcohol sales growth slower than last year

Russia’s alcohol sales in January-August this year increased by 1.3% as compared to the same period in 2020, Profibeer reported on October 20.

This represents a much slower growth rate than last year, when the January-August sales increased by 7.4% versus the same period in 2019, NielsenQ data showed.

Beer sales in volume terms increased by 2%, those of rum – by 9.2%, tequila – by 1.1%, whiskey – by 16.2%, champagne – by 5.9%. Sales of vodka dropped by 2.5% and those of sparking wines fell by 11%.

One of the nation’s leading brewers, AB InBev Efes, admitted the decline in demand for alcohol explaining it by an increase in excise duties, a drop in the population’s purchasing power, shortage of aluminium packaging and the high base of the previous year.