Russian vodka exports fall 40% amid sanctions war

Russian exports of vodka and other alcoholic beverages dropped sharply last year due to the Ukraine conflict and Western sanctions imposed on the country, the Kommersant newspaper reported, citing customs statistics.

Last year, revenue from alcohol exports amounted to $111.9 million, which is a decrease of 40.2 percent from 2014, when revenues stood at $187.1 million.

Exports to Ukraine — the biggest importer of Russian alcohol before the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in the county’s east — collapsed from $38.6 million in 2013 to a mere $3.87 million last year.

The revenue from exports to Britain, Latvia and Germany also declined significantly due to sanctions, falling by 35, 14 and 28.6 percent respectively, Kommersant reported.

First published by The Moscow Times.

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