MOSCOW, September 1Deliveries of imported wine to Russia increased in August compared to the same period last year, but may be significantly reduced in the fall: according to one of the forecasts, the decline will be up to 30%, said representatives of the alcohol market.
At the end of July, the press service of the Ministry of Economic Development reported that the Russian government had increased import duties on wines from unfriendly countries by the end of 2023 from 12.5% to 20%, but not less than $1.5 per liter. After that, importers announced a possible increase in the cost of foreign products, and representatives of the restaurant business — that domestic wine is not enough to meet the demand of establishments.
“According to the results of August this year, imports will also be higher than last year. I think that according to the results of September and October, a correction will already be noticeable. Imports in these months may decrease from 15 to 30%. … The formed stock will allow prices to rise smooth, stretched for 4-6 months,» said Veniamin Grabar, president of a major distributor and importer of alcohol in the Russian Federation — Ladoga.
At the same time, according to him, the import of the company itself in August compared to July increased by 20%. The main countries from which supplies were made were Italy, Spain, Georgia, France, Portugal. Alexander Lipilin, executive director of the Fort wine trading company, also noted that in August importers brought the goods and in the volumes that were planned at the beginning of the year.
“Definiteness with duties appeared at the end of July, since August there have been reorganizations in logistics, but changes … take time. For example, goods from Argentina or Chile sail to Riga for two months, from Australia — three months, and you need to order it for another a month before shipment. What we will observe in August, September and October will be the result of decisions that were made even before the very topic of increasing duties appeared,» Lipilin believes.
Simple Group, one of the largest importers of premium wines to Russia, believes that the decline in imports of wines from «unfriendly» countries year on year will become more noticeable in September-October. After selling the leftovers imported at the old purchase prices at the same level of duties, and increasing the cost of wines from «unfriendly» countries, consumers will switch to wines from other regions, the company believes.
