Beer will become more expensive

      Baltika beer producers (Baltika, Czech Bear, Arsenalnoye brands) and the Moscow Brewing Company (MPK, Khamovniki, Zhiguli Barnoe, Graf Orlov, Hollandia) announced an increase in selling prices for their products, as reported by the Kommersant newspaper. Moreover, the indexation of IPC products is expected to average 10-15%, Baltika did not specify the exact amount of the cost increase. It should be noted that since the beginning of this year, the last beer producer has already raised the selling prices for draft beer by 10%. According to Baltika, the main reason for the indexation was the annual increase in the excise tax on beer. So, since the beginning of 2025, this fee for beer with a strength from 0.5% to 8.6% has increased to 30 rubles per liter (in 2024 — 26 rubles). 

      According to Alexey Nebolsin, an independent alcohol market expert, since January 1, prices have risen the most for bottles and corrugated containers. Almost all Russian beer producers have already raised their selling prices. First of all, this was done by small brewers, as they have a small margin of safety.

      An interlocutor of Kommersant, who works for a large brewing company, added that the high key rate of the Central Bank at 21% and the general increase in inflation may also contribute to price increases. The cost of beer production may also be under pressure from the need to increase wages, added Igor Khavsky, co-owner of the SVAM Group distributor and Gletcher brewery.

      The price increase also affected imported beer. There are several reasons for this: fluctuations in the ruble exchange rate, as well as increased import duties on such products from unfriendly countries at the end of last year. According to Khavsky, this led to an increase in prices for foreign beer to an average of 130-140 rubles per liter. However, beer prices should not rise further during 2025 if the situation in the foreign exchange market stabilizes, the expert says.