OREANDA-NEWS  In 2023, Russia imported 102 million decaliters (dal) of alcoholic beverages, which is 6.5% more than in 2022, according to the presentation by Igor Alyoshin, head of Rosalkogoltabakcontrol. He presented it to the Federation Council.

Including imports of labelled alcohol increased by 5.4%, to 60 million dal, unmarked alcohol - by 8%, to 42 million dal.

Vodka was mainly imported to Russia from Belarus (85.9% of supplies), Finland (3.9%), Kazakhstan (3.1%), France (2.9%), Sweden (1.7%). The main cognac suppliers were Armenia (61.7%) and Georgia (22.5%). The share of France in the import of this drink was 7.4%, Spain - 2.8%.

More than half of the whiskey shipments were to the UK (53.9%). The share of the USA was 13.8%, Ireland - 10.5%.

Grape wines were imported mainly from Spain (17%), Italy (15.8%), Georgia (15.8%), Portugal (13%), Abkhazia (10.4%). Italy was the main supplier of sparkling wines (70.8%), followed by France (13.4%) and Spain (8.3%). Liqueur wines were imported most of all from Uzbekistan (42.5%) and Portugal (34.1%).

Of the fermented beverages, the largest batches of cider were imported from Belarus (68.8%) and the United Kingdom (10%), as well as France, Spain and Belgium. The main suppliers of poire were Estonia (44%) and France (31%).

Low-alcohol drinks came from Serbia (41.8%), Italy (30.8%), Spain (18.2%), the USA (8.3%), Japan (1.1%).

The export of alcoholic beverages in 2023 decreased by 36.6%, to 25.1 million dal.

Since July 2021, Russia has been conducting an experiment on labeling imported alcohol with federal special labels, Alyoshin said that during this time the number of participating regions has increased from 1 to 11, customs warehouses - from 2 to 53, importers - from 6 to 162.

In this regard, the senators raised the issue of the need to switch from an experiment to full labeling of imported alcohol in Russia. Alyoshin supported this proposal, noting that "it is necessary to rigidly enter a date" after which labeling of imported alcohol abroad will be impossible.

Earlier, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov also spoke about the need for a complete transfer of labeling to the territory of Russia.

Previously, labeling of imported alcohol was allowed only before importation into the territory of Russia at manufacturing plants or warehouses, usually located in the Baltic States (Lithuania, Latvia). Because of this, importers faced additional risks associated with the formation of a logistics supply chain, providing additional cargo insurance. There was a risk of refusal of such labeling in the territories of Western countries.

The experiment was supposed to end on May 31, 2024. In March 2024, a law was passed extending the experiment until May 31, 2026. Now it is held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Bryansk, Vladimir, Kaliningrad, Leningrad, Pskov and Smolensk regions, Krasnodar Territory and Tatarstan.