Sales of strong alcohol decreased by 10-12%
A sharp increase in alcohol prices led to a decrease in demand. Sales of strong alcohol in retail in the first quarter decreased by 10-12% a year by the year. The cost of alcohol for consumers increased due to increasing excise taxes, minimal prices and high duties for products from unfriendly countries. Citizens are trying to compensate for this, switching to new categories of alcohol.
Retail sales of alcohol with a fortress above 9% in January -March decreased by 10-12% a year by the year, said “Kommersant” by an independent expert of the alcohol market Alexei Malsin. Another interlocutor of Kommersant recorded a decrease in sales in the first quarter by 6-13% a year by the year, depending on the category. A significant decline is observed in vodka, brandy and cognac – the most massive categories. The growth of sales of whiskey and gin continues due to the low base, but they affect the general indicators less, says the source of Kommersant. The data of the market participants are preliminary. In the Rosalkolletabakcontrol (RATK), Kommersant explained that sales statistics for the first quarter will be available next week.
In the analytical company Nielsen, in January -February, a drop in natural brandy sales was recorded by 10% of the year, cognac by 6%, vodka – by 4.5% (see schedule). In the RATC, it was previously noted that the sale of alcohol (excluding beer, cider and mead) in January -February decreased by 12.2%, to 32.05 million decalpers (DAL). The production of alcohol, according to the agency, in the first quarter amounted to 19.5 million, having lost 20.7% a year by the year.
Novabev Group (Beluga, Bellenkoy, “soft”) also indicate a negative trend. The shipment of the company’s own brands in the first quarter decreased by 4.9% year by the year, partnerships – by 4%. The growth of sales included in the Vinlab retail network slowed down. Their total volume in the first quarter of the year added 19.4% to the year. In the same period last year, growth was estimated at 36.2%. Business growth rates began to decline, despite the nine percent growth of network traffic for the year by the year.
Information about a noticeable decrease in sales of alcohol in the first quarter is close to the truth, says Pavel Pobedkin, owner of the Kaluga Liker-Vodka Plant, Old Park.
Although the deputy general director of the commercial issues of Tatspirtprom (Tundra, Bugulma) Yuri Karyakin says that the company fixes the sales increase in key brands from 1% to 53%.
Aleksei Bolsin binds a drop in consumption of strong alcohol with an increase in retail value in the light of increasing minimal retail prices (MRC) and excise taxes.
Since the beginning of 2025, the tax rate on ethyl alcohol has increased by 15%, to 740 rubles. for 1 l. MRC for alcohol was also enlarged: for brandy – by 17.12%, up to 472 rubles. per 0.5 l, cognac – by 17.09%, up to 651 rubles, vodka – by 16.7%, up to 349 rubles.
According to the Evotor Fiscal Data operator, the average cost of alcohol in non -lacy retail in March increased by 13% year by year. Pavel Pobedkin says that last year alone, the cost of alcohol production increased by 30%. Manufacturers restrained growth, but with the entry into force of new excise taxes, the load switched to buyers.
The import alcohol segment additionally presses an increase in products from unfriendly countries. Since September 12, 2024, the rate on whiskey, rum, jin, vodka and liquors is 20% of the customs value, but not less than € 3 per 1 liter. Previously, the duty was € 1.4–1.5 per 1 liter. Ruslan Bragin, the head of the direction of strong alcohol of the Fort, believes that this also contributed to a general decrease in consumption. Although the share of imported alcohol in the structure of sales is traditionally lower.
The decrease in sales was more affected by the business of companies that did not diversify the range, said Alexander Grevtsov, commercial director of Stellar Group (Brends Veda, Old Barrel, Steersman).
The expert explains that due to a sharp increase in the MRC, several cost categories of vodka-“first price”, “low-price”, “mid-monitor” and “medium-grip”-united into one. This led to the washing of retail from the most affordable positions.
Buyers began to reorient to more affordable types of alcohol with minimal excise component and price on the shelf, says Mr. Pobedkin. Alexey Malsin also indicates the growth of the popularity of home -made alcohol, in particular moonshine. Although, according to Wildberries, sales of special devices in natural terms remain small. In the first quarter, the demand for them grew by 5% of the year, the average check added 16%, reaching 9 thousand rubles.
The material is updated at 11:47 – the numbers of the RADK for the implementation of alcohol were changed.
