Imported beer will disappear from the shelves of Russian stores due to new tariffs

Starting from January 1, 2025, Russian stores faced the disappearance of the last affordable imported beer. The main reason for this was the sharp increase in customs duties on products from "unfriendly" countries, including the European Union and the USA. As a result of the imposed restrictions, rates increased from 10 cents to 1 euro per liter. This is already the second significant increase: earlier, in April 2024, the duty had increased 2.5 times - from 0.04 euros to 0.1 euros per liter.

Consequences for the market

Many stores in the "Krasnoye & Beloye" chain are already experiencing a shortage of imported beer. As noted by Igor Khavskiy, owner of the Gletcher brewery and Svam Group distribution company, retail chains are forced to reconsider their assortments. The reason is the significant increase in product prices, which makes them less competitive in the Russian market.

Previously, affordable imported beer competed with the local premium segment sold at 70-80 rubles. However, taking the new tariffs into account, the retail price will rise to 70-80 rubles, leading to a price of 140-160 rubles for a bottle. This price level may disappoint consumers who previously chose foreign brands solely for their affordability.

Collapse of the import business model

According to Khavskiy, the main competitive advantage of affordable foreign beer was its availability. However, now the price difference with local premium or licensed beer is 40-50%, which leads retailers to refuse to purchase foreign brands.

Experts estimate that due to the new economic conditions, imported beer may almost completely disappear from the shelves of Russian stores. This creates additional opportunities for Russian manufacturers, but at the same time limits consumer choice and strengthens the position of local brands.