The Russian Government is planning to significantly raise import duties on beer and spirits from countries it designates as "unfriendly" to EUR 5 per liter. According to draft budget materials for 2027-2029 cited by Reuters and The Moscow Times, the new levy would take effect on January 1, 2027, if approved.
For beer, this move represents a massive hike. The import duty currently stands at EUR 1.5 per liter, a rate that was established in September 2025. Earlier in January 2025, the tariff had already been increased to EUR 1 per liter from a previous EUR 0.1 per liter. Strong alcohol imports will also be affected, as the minimum duty for spirits would jump from the current EUR 3 per liter to the proposed EUR 5. In addition to import tariffs, the draft budget indicates a 6.5 percent increase in domestic excise taxes on alcohol for 2027.
The Russian designation of "unfriendly countries" broadly covers the United States, European Union member states, and most other Western nations. For international beverage companies that still export to the country, this measure will make the market increasingly difficult to navigate alongside existing compliance risks and logistical challenges.
The Russian beer market is now largely controlled by domestic companies that took over assets previously owned by Western brewing groups. In July 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin placed Baltika, then owned by Carlsberg, under temporary state administration (inside.beer, 16.07.2023). Carlsberg subsequently lost control of the business and recorded substantial write-downs (inside.beer, 07.02.2024). In December 2024, the Danish brewer completed its exit from Russia by selling Baltika to VG Invest for RUB 34 billion (about USD 320 million at the time). The proposed tariff hike will likely further protect the market share of these domestic producers by pricing out the remaining foreign competition.
