The volumes of beer consumption in Russia will increase 17% by 2005, according to the forecasts of Business Analitika. According to the same source the demand on spirits will decrease 14% by 2005. It’s interesting that in 2003 the money spent for vodka approached to the money spent for beer. In the coming year beer will overcome vodka, according to analysts.

If in the first half of 2003 Russia output 8.32 million hl of vodka and 8.36 million hl in the same period of 2002, Russia produced 52.9 million hl of beer in the first six month of 2003 and 50.9 million hl of beer in the same period of 2002. Moreover winter months register the less beer production about 30-35% of all year output. In the first quarter of the year Russian brewers produced 14.01 million hl of beer, in the second one – 22.34 million hl, in July, August and September –22.95 million hl. According to the forecasts Russia will brew about 13.8 million hl of beer in the forth quarter of the year.

30 December, 2003