Ethyl alcohol production in Russia decreased by more than 20%

Based on the results of the first eight months of 2026, the production of rectified ethyl alcohol in Russia decreased by more than a fifth compared to the same period in 2025. Kommersant reports a sharp drop in the output of these products, citing data from Rosalkogoltabakkontrol (RATK).

During the reporting period, alcohol production on the domestic market fell by 21 percent year-on-year, to 26.13 million deciliters (dal). The decline accelerated sharply towards the end of summer. Thus, in August, output fell by 61.17 percent in annual terms, to 1.85 million decaliters.

Rectified ethyl alcohol is used mainly in the production of strong alcohol. The head of Soyuzkonyak, Vladislav Reznik, explained this dynamics primarily by a decrease in the production of alcoholic beverages. This trend has been observed over the past two years against the backdrop of falling demand in the domestic market.

Taking into account the last factor, explained the vice president of D.I.S.T. Spirits (brands Nerpa, Pobeda, Baikal) Alevtina Khasanova, a number of domestic manufacturers have revised their production plans. The situation is also under pressure from an increase in excise taxes on alcohol and minimum retail prices, she concluded.