Russian alcohol industry starts cutting production, down 0.5% in 10M - regulator

MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) - Russian alcohol enterprises produced 151.2 million decaliters (dal) of spirits and alcoholic drinks, excluding beer, beer drinks, cider, poire and mead, in January-October 2024, down 0.5% year-on-year, Russia's alcohol and tobacco regulator Rosalkogoltabakcontrol said.

This marks the first decrease in production since the start of the year, with all previous periods seeing growth. The reduction is due to a 48% fall in production of low-alcohol drinks to 9.34 million dal, a more than 50% drop in production of beverages containing ethyl alcohol to 194,400 dal, and a 43% fall in production of fruit-based alcoholic drinks to 5.5 million dal.

Production of sparkling wines was up 25% to 13.5 million dal while still wine production increased 9.3% to 27.1 million dal. Liqueur wine saw the biggest growth, at 42.4% to 974,400 dal.

Vodka enterprises increased production 1.8% to 64.5 million dal. Bottling of cognac was up 16.3% to 7.9 million dal, while liquor and vodka products were up 29% to 14.2 million dal.

Production of spirits with more than 9% alcohol increased 7.7% YoY to 94.6 million dal in 10M.