Output reached 26.13 million decaliters in January-August. August production fell 61.17% year on year.
Russian output of rectified ethyl alcohol fell 21% year on year in January-August 2026 to 26.13 million decaliters, according to data from the Federal Service for Alcohol and Tobacco Market Control cited by Kommersant. In August, production in this category dropped 61.17% to 1.85 million decaliters.
Total ethyl alcohol production declined 17.12% to 40.24 million decaliters in the first eight months of the year. August output was down almost 57% at 3.04 million decaliters. Overall alcohol production in Russia fell 7.2% year on year in January-August to 684.11 million, the newspaper reported.
Vladislav Reznik, head of the Soyuzkon’yak association and a State Duma deputy, linked the decline in spirit output to a contraction in alcohol production that has continued for about two years. Alvetina Khasanova, vice-president of D.I.S.T. Spirits, cited softer demand, lower purchases of raw materials and revised production plans.
Khasanova also pointed to higher excise duties and minimum retail prices, expensive borrowing and companies’ reluctance to tie up working capital in inventories. Market expert Sergei Gladyshchuk said higher financial costs and advance payment requirements made large raw-material purchases more difficult.