OREANDA-NEWS. March 10, 2010. Baltika Breweries has signed a contract to export its celebrated Russian beer to Benin, Togo, Burkina Faso and Cameroon. The agreement was the result of the company’s participation in the 7th annual Middle East Exclusive trade show in the United Arab Emirates in the beginning of February.

Baltika № 7 Export, Baltika Nine Extra, and Baltika № 6 Porter are all being exported to West Africa. Primary sales of the ‘Baltika’ sorts will be centred on the capital cities of Porto-Novo, Lome, Ouagadougou and Yaounde. The average cost of a 0.5-litre bottle of beer will be about USD 2.00.

Baltika is the only Russian beer producer whose products are exported to Africa. Baltika beer is categorised as premium, and is already available in other countries of the region such as Kenya, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. In 2009, Baltika’s sales in African countries stood at about 2.2 million litres, which exceeds the previous year’s figures several times over.

Baltika Nine Extra enjoys the greatest popularity on the continent; its share of sales comprises 60% of total shipments. Nine Extra’s main competitors are strong Dutch and German brands.

Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, and Cameroon are all located in West Africa. Deliveries of Baltika to the region are dispatched by sea from St. Petersburg and take approximately forty days to arrive. The population of Burkina Faso is around 16 million people, 8.8 million live in Benin, Togo has 6 million and Cameroon — 19 million.

The Middle East Exclusive exhibition has taken place annually in Dubai since 2003, attracting manufacturers and participants in the free trade zone of the Middle East and Africa.

Baltika Breweries is Russia's largest consumer goods producer and since 1996 has been the leader on the Russian beer market. Baltika is the number one selling beer brand in Europe (Canadean, Euromonitor). The company has breweries in ten Russian cities, a brewery in Azerbaijan, and boasts a large brand portfolio. Baltika Breweries is the leading exporter of Russian beer: Baltika products are represented in more than 60 countries, and make up 70% of all Russian beer exports.