Germany and Czechia supply the most beer to Russia, despite sanctions

Czech breweries significantly increased beer exports to Russia last year, even as Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine remained in place, reports the Russian agency RIA Novosti citing state statistics.

According to data from the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO), beer exports from the Czech Republic to Russia rose by 27 percent year-on-year, reaching 33,100 tons between January and October. This accounted for nearly 62 million half-liter servings and a value exceeding CZK 819 million.

Germany remained the leading beer supplier to Russia, despite a 24 percent decrease in exports, shipping 105,300 tons in the same period. Czech beer ranked second, while China moved up to third, boosting its exports by 1.6 times to 29,800 tons.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and related sanctions have significantly reshaped trade flows, with some European countries cutting ties. Danish breweries, for instance, ceased exports entirely. However, the Polish newspaper Rzeczpospolita criticized Czech breweries, stating, “Czech breweries have no ethical doubts that profit comes first, regardless of who it brings money to.”

Beer remains a lucrative export for the Czech Republic, with Russia becoming its third-largest market in 2023, following Germany and Slovakia.

“Despite the invasion and sanctions, Czech beer exports to Russia reached record levels, approaching a value of CZK 1 billion,” said Lukáš Kovanda, Chief Economist at Trinity Bank told the Czech Press Agency.

Meanwhile, Lithuania, Belgium, Poland, and other countries also maintained significant exports to Russia, though some, like Belgium, saw substantial declines.

China’s growing influence in the Russian market extends to beer imports, with Russia’s largest brewery, Baltika, now creating brands tailored for Chinese consumers. However, Chinese imports of Russian beer fell by about 25 percent in early 2024, indicating shifting dynamics in the region’s beer trade.

As Western nations continue to impose sanctions, Russia has turned to “friendly” countries, including China, for trade opportunities, while its domestic breweries seek to adapt to a shrinking export market.

Following the publication, Czech breweries have reiterated that they do not export beer to Russia, having halted shipments following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine (they claim).

Despite this, data from the Czech Statistical Office reveals a 27-percent increase in Czech beer imports to Russia last year, amounting to CZK 819 million. Breweries attribute this surge to third-party resales. Leading producers such as Plzeňský Prazdroj and Budweiser Budvar stress their strict compliance with export bans.