19 March 18:20
In February 2026, the average price of a liter of vodka in Russia reached 948.48 rubles, an increase of 16.08% over the year. This is the highest growth rate among all alcohol categories tracked by Rosstat, Kommersant reports.
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For comparison: beer rose in price by 14.96% (up to 208.29 rubles per liter), fortified wine – by 12.6% (up to 963.48 rubles), cognac – by 10.09% (up to 1.7 thousand rubles).
Experts attribute the rise in price to several factors. Since the beginning of the year, the excise tax on alcohol above 18% has increased by 11.4% – to 824 rubles per liter of alcohol. The minimum retail price for vodka has jumped to 409 rubles per half liter. In addition, manufacturers are faced with increased costs of logistics, raw materials and packaging. Costs for electricity, wages and workshop operations have also increased.
Due to rising prices, the boundaries between price segments are blurring. Buyers are increasingly switching from cheap vodka to premium vodka – the difference in price has become insignificant. According to the Alcohol Siberian Group, in 2025 the share of super-premium vodkas increased from 1.4 to 1.6%, and the economy segment shrank from 39.5 to 36.1%.
Market participants note that old stocks in stores have already been sold out, and by April prices will finally move to a new level. In the third quarter, a new factor will be added – a change in the excise duty payment scheme, which may lead to additional burden on manufacturers and temporary disruptions.
It is predicted that in 2026, vodka sales may decline by 2-3%. Budget brands will bear the brunt, while the premium segment will likely continue to grow.
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