Alcohol Production Returns to 2005 Level
Production of vodka and other distilled liquors has recovered 2006's crisis, climbing 9.9 percent last year to reach 131.5 million decaliters. That is approximately the amount produced in 2005, before the introduction of the Unified State Automated Information System (Russian abbreviation EGAIS). In 2005, 132.4 million dal of distilled liquors were produced. According to Rosstat, the state statistics service, production of all forms of alcoholic beverage rose, with the exception of low-alcohol beverages.
In 2007, production of ethyl alcohol rose to 55.9 million dal (up 1% from 2006), vodka and other distilled liquors reached 131.5 million dal (+9.9%), grape wine reached 51.2 million dal (+8.8%), champagne and sparkling wine reached 21.6 million dal (+40.4%) and cognac reached 8 million dal (+24.9%).
The introduction of EGAIS paralyzed the alcoholic beverages market in 2006 due to complications tied to its implementation in January, February and July and to a shortage of excise stamps. The intent of the new system was to increase legal alcohol production. About 40 rubles from every bottle of hard liquor go to excise taxes. Wine and cognac saw production increases last year as well, however, due to bans on imports of those beverages from Georgia and Moldova.
Low-alcohol beverages were produced in 2007 at a rate of only 59.3 percent of the level of 2006. Industry spokesmen blame that fall on the sharp increase in the excise tax on ethyl alcohol (from 83 to 162 rubles per liter) that went into effect at the beginning of last year, forcing up prices on those beverages.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Jan. 21, 2008
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