Page 172 - RusRPTApr23

More than 70 Russian airline jets remained abroad after sanctions were imposed, Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said at a meeting of the State Duma (lower house) Committee on Transport and Development of Transport Infrastructure on March 14.
9.1.5 Retail sector news
Russia's wine production was up by 10% y/y in the first two months of this year, the Federal Agency for Alcohol Regulation said on March 8. Grape wine production increased by 10.2% compared to the same period in 2022, reaching a total of 3.4mn decalitres. Additionally, champagne production rose to 1.7mn decalitres, a 25.8% increase, while liquor production surged by 31.3% to reach 0.17mn decalitres. On the other hand, grape-containing drinks without ethyl alcohol production climbed to 0.44mn dal, which is a 23.5% increase. However, production of such drinks with ethyl alcohol saw a massive drop of 85.1%, amounting to 3,100 dal. Meanwhile, fruit alcoholic beverages declined by 27.4%, reaching 0.98mn decalitres. Vodka drinking has long since given way to increases in drinking beer and wine in Russia, as Russians become more health conscious. The production of vodka decreased by 8.2% to reach 9.8mn decalitres, while cognac production grew by 6.3% to reach 1.2mn decalitres. The total volume of alcoholic products produced in the country, excluding beer, poiret, and mead, increased by 3.3%, reaching 23.8mn decalitres. Strong alcoholic beverage sales with an alcohol content above 25% rose by 7.5% Y/y to 6.8 litres per person. This significant increase may be linked to the withdrawal of foreign alcohol markets from Russia, as some consumers may have purchased imported alcohol for future use. The consumption of strong alcohol was highest in cold climate regions such as Karelia, Sakhalin, and Komi with the Magadan Region, with 15.5 litres, 14.9 litres, and 14.6 litres per person per year, respectively. Overall, the consumption of strong alcohol increased in most regions, whereas wine consumption dropped by 5.5% to 6.2 litres per person.
9.1.6 Agriculture sector news
The grain harvest in Russia in 2023 may reach around 120mn tonnes,
Chairman of the Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Committee for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex Pyotr Chekmarev said on March 10. On March 1, the Ministry of Agriculture reported citing First Deputy Minister Oksana Lut that the Russian grain export target for the current agricultural season stands at 60mn metric tonnes. It was reported earlier that the forecast for the Russian wheat harvest in 2023 was revised downward from 86mn to 85.3mn metric tonnes.
Russia may harvest 85.3mn metric tonnes of wheat this year, compared to 104.2mn metric tonnes harvested in 2022, Russian agribusiness research firm Sovecon said on March 22. "Sovecon has updated its forecast
172 RUSSIA Country Report Russia April 2023 www.intellinews.com