Retailers squeeze out alcohol importers – Kommersant FM
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Retail chains have become leaders in the import of wine to Russia. In 2023, chain retailers entered the top largest importers, Vedomosti writes, citing data from the Federal Customs Service. In first place is X5 Group, which manages Pyaterochka and Perekrestok; the company imported 40 million liters of wine. It is followed by Magnit, whose imports amounted to 31 million liters. In 2018, the share of retail chains did not exceed 20%; now retailers and related structures supply approximately 80% of all imported wine.
Retail chains have some advantages over other players, Gazprombank analyst Marat Ibragimov told Kommersant FM: “The leadership of retailers is quite clear. These are large companies with an established financial system and well-established logistics; it is easy for them to organize the supply of alcohol from abroad directly, without the intermediary of wholesale companies. They started importing their own goods, the same thing happened with fruits, and now they’ve got their hands on wine. This is the most cost-effective, profitable and traffic-generating category of goods.
The trend to increase the share and strengthen the role of retailers in the import of wine to Russia will intensify, since they have all the reasons for this, resources, infrastructure and, most importantly, a growing volume of business. Retailers have access to low-cost resources, know how to carry out international transactions in the face of foreign trade restrictions, and can take advantage of these advantages.”
In total, 448 million liters of still, sparkling and fortified wine were supplied to Russia in 2023. This is almost 43 million liters more than in 2022. The increase in supplies is associated with an imminent increase in the cost of excise taxes on alcohol, says Andrey Grigoriev, partner of the wine consulting agency Double Magnum:
“If we talk about wine, from May 2024 the excise tax rate will increase significantly, three times for still and sparkling wines. Therefore, it is logical that importers are trying to import goods with the old rate in order to get some stock and soften the increase in prices for wines that fall under this increase.
We saw an increase in the first quarter, perhaps it will be even greater in April. This mainly applies to inexpensive wine, because the cost of excise duty significantly affects the price; if a bottle costs about 300-400 rubles, that’s 15%. It is clear that for expensive wine this is no longer so significant. It is impossible to import goods five years in advance, but supplies will be made for two to three months.”
The geography of supplies is also changing, reports the Center for Research on Federal and Regional Alcohol Markets. Companies are beginning to focus on the CIS countries, Asia and Latin America; supplies from Brazil, China and India are being tested.
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