In 2023, the main suppliers of wine to Russia were Lithuania, Latvia and Georgia, according to UN Comtrade international trade statistics. This was noticed “RIA News” And RBC.
From the beginning of the year to July, Lithuania exported $126 million worth of wine to Russia. The volume of supplies from this country, according to Comtrade, increased by a third compared to last year. Russia imported $112.1 million worth of wine from Georgia, and supplies from Latvia reached $79 million.
Italy supplied bottles of wine for a smaller amount – $72.7 million. Other suppliers had significantly lower figures: Spain, fourth on the list, exported only $20.8 million worth of its products, followed by Poland, Germany, Chile, Portugal and Armenia. According to Comtrade data, this year Lithuania and Latvia bought wines from Italy ($59.3 million), Spain ($21 million) and Germany ($14.1 million).
At the end of July, the Russian government increased duties on the import of wine from unfriendly countries from 12.5 to 20% (but not less than $1.5 per liter). As the Ministry of Energy noted then, this measure is in response to actions towards Russia by such states. The duties came into force on August 1.
Kommersant then drew attention to the fact that the import of all wines to Russia in July, a month before the increase in duties on such products from unfriendly countries, exceeded 45.5 million liters. The volume of July deliveries increased by 17% compared to June, becoming the maximum this year. The Ministry of Economy reported that after the increase in duties, the wine market will be saturated with domestic producers and imports from friendly and neutral countries. Imports of still wines from Chile in 2022 increased in value terms by 9%, from Armenia – by 161%, the ministry noted. Demand for South African wines has also increased.
According to Georgian statistics, wine exports from Georgia to Russia for the period from January to June 2023 made up 29,991 tons, which is 39.51% higher than the same period in 2022.
