Russia raises import duties on spirits from unfriendly countries to 35%

Russia’s government has raised import duties on spirits from countries it classifies as unfriendly, increasing the tariff to 35%, with a minimum charge of 5 euros per liter, according to a government resolution published Wednesday, November 4, on the official legal information portal.

The measure replaces the previous rate of 20%, with a minimum of 3 euros per liter. According to Interfax, the resolution was signed on October 31 and will remain in force through December 31, 2027.

The higher duties apply to a broad range of products, including spirit tinctures, whiskey, rum, gin, liqueurs, undenatured ethyl alcohol and other alcoholic drinks. The move tightens Russia’s trade restrictions on imported distilled beverages from the group of countries Moscow has designated as unfriendly.

The change is significant for the drinks business because it raises the cost of entering the Russian market for foreign spirits producers and their local partners. The higher tariff and the higher minimum per-liter charge could squeeze margins, lift consumer prices and force importers and distributors to reconsider product mix, volumes and pricing, especially in categories such as whiskey, rum and gin that depend on imported supply.

Interfax reported that the government expects the increase to support state revenue. According to the explanatory note to the draft federal budget for 2027 and the planning period for 2028 and 2029, the higher duties in 2027 are expected to add 10 billion rubles to the budget.

The resolution does not change only the percentage rate. By lifting the minimum duty from 3 euros to 5 euros per liter, the government also raises the floor on lower-priced shipments, which can make imports more expensive even when the declared customs value is modest. That structure means the impact may be felt across both premium and more affordable imported spirits.

Russia has used the “unfriendly countries” designation in recent years to impose a range of economic restrictions and trade barriers. In this case, the new duty specifically targets strong alcohol imports from those states, adding another cost layer for companies still selling into Russia.

For international beverage companies, the measure may add pressure to reassess whether sales volumes in Russia can absorb higher costs without undermining competitiveness. For Russian importers and retailers, it may complicate purchasing plans and inventory strategy as they weigh whether to pass on higher costs to consumers, absorb part of the increase, or shift toward alternative suppliers and domestic products.

The measure covers one of the more valuable segments of the beverage trade. Imported spirits often occupy the midrange and premium tiers of store shelves and bar menus, so any sharp increase in border costs can ripple through wholesale contracts, retail pricing and on-trade purchasing. The new tariff level also creates a wider gap between imported products from affected countries and competing brands that may face lower trade barriers.

The government’s decision, as published on Wednesday, November 4, sets a clear time frame: the higher duties are to remain in place until the end of 2027. That gives importers and producers a fixed period for planning, but it also means the tougher terms are not short-lived. Unless the policy is revised, companies involved in exporting spirits to Russia from the affected countries will have to operate under the higher tariff regime for more than a year.