Western consumers are steering clear of Russian vodka.
Sales of the country’s vodka and liquors have plummeted by 42% to 43.5 million litres in 2015, official figures reported by Kommersant newspaper.
This was the lowest amount since 2005.
The total value of vodka and liquor exports dropped 40.2% to $111.9m (£77.4), Kommersant newspaper reported.
The blame was attributed to the western sanctions imposed against Russia as well as the fall in oil prices and the country’s continuing economic crisis.
Many vodka producers, particularly smaller ones, no longer have the money to invest in promoting their products in export markets, according to Vadim Droby, director of the Centre for the Study of Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets.
He said the sanctions have ruined companies’ ability to export.
“The sanctions don’t ban vodka, but every entrepreneur’s task is to make money, and he won’t risk his money so your English consumer will have Russian vodka,” he said. “Maybe they’ll ban Russian vodka tomorrow; who knows?”
He also felt that negative publicity of Russia’s involvement in conflicts in the Ukraine and Syria has made consumers shun Russian spirits.
Russian alcohol exports to the UK contracted by just less than 60%, dropping by nearly 10 million litres last year. Nevertheless, Britain remains the largest importer of Russian vodka. Imports were valued at $22.53 million last year.
Germany, Latvia and the US are the next biggest vodka importers.
Connoisseurs can take heart that of the ten most popular vodka brands, the leading three are produced in France, Canada and Finland.
