China ranked third in terms of beer supplies to Russia by the end of 2024

In 2023, Chinese beer imports ranked only sixth in volume. The Chinese were helped to rise in the ranking by a significant drop in imports from Belgium, which in 2023 took second place: deliveries of Belgian beer to Russia in 2024 fell by a third, to 18.4 thousand tons in January- October, the publication notes.

At the end of last year, an increase in beer supplies was recorded from Poland (a five-fold increase to 18.1 thousand tons), the Netherlands (a 19% increase to 4.7 thousand tons), Austria ( an increase of 14% to 2.3 thousand tons) and the Czech Republic (an increase of 27% to 33.1 thousand tons). The first place in the structure of Russian beer imports is traditionally occupied by Germany with 105.3 thousand tons: German beer imports fell by 24% compared to 2023. Supplies from Lithuania remained practically unchanged at 24.3 thousand tons.

Previously, the Russian government increased customs duties on beer from “hostile countries” from 0.04 euros per liter to 0.1 euros per liter. According to the Council of Ministers, this measure will level the competitive conditions for Russian brewers and is not prohibitive, and the share of foreign beer in the structure of Russian consumption does not exceed 5%.

Last December, producers announced an increase in beer sales prices from January 1, 2025 due to the increase in the Central Bank rate and inflation rates. On average, prices will increase by 9% to 10%. The price increase will affect the products of the companies United Breweries (formerly Heineken), AB InBev Efes, Krinitsa-Trade LLC and Medovarus, as well as the distributor Gosseline Logistics.

In early December 2024, the Danish Carlsberg group sold the Russian plants of the Baltika brewery to the local management represented by VG Invest for 34 billion rubles; The company tried to leave the Russian market since March 2022, but was prevented by an external address introduced. in 2023.