Lithuania, Latvia and Georgia have become leaders in terms of wine supplies to Russia

Lithuania, Georgia and Latvia became the leaders in terms of wine supplies to Russia in the period from January to August 2023. The total volume of supplies from these three countries exceeded $317.5 million. They ousted Italy and Spain from the top three.

Source. The Moscow Times writes about this with reference to the data of the UN Comtrade platform and national statistical services.

In general, during this period, Russia imported wines totaling $485 million. Lithuania accounted for more than a quarter of this amount, with its exports growing by 20.6% over the year. Georgia and Latvia also showed an increase of 19.4% ($112.1 million) and 18.5% ($79.5 million) respectively.

Italy was only fourth in the list of wine suppliers to Russia with sales of $72.7 million.

The top 10 also includes Spain ($20.8 million), Poland ($18.3 million), Germany ($11.3 million), Chile ($10.4 million), Portugal ($7.7 million) and Armenia ($6.3 million).

Experts explain that the Baltic states have been acting as transit links in the supply of wine to Russia from other European countries for more than 20 years. Russian legislation requires that foreign alcoholic beverages must be accompanied by an excise stamp, which makes the Baltic states a convenient point for paying the excise tax. More than half of the wine exported from France, Italy and Spain to Russia passes through Lithuania and Latvia as transit points indicated in customs documents.

Background. In the spring of 2022, in response to the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, the European Union banned the supply of its wines to Russia for more than 300 euros per unit. The United States and Australia also restricted alcohol exports to Russia.