Chinese Beer Surges to No. 1 in Russia Imports After EU Tariffs Bite

Chinese beer has surged to the top of Russia’s import market, as trade barriers and geopolitical tensions push European rivals to the sidelines. New data show Russia has become China’s largest international beer market, with exports more than doubling in August alone.

Russia’s imports of Chinese beer climbed to a record US$6.7 million in August, according to Russian state news agency Sputnik. It was the third straight month of record highs, with imports rising 50% from July and more than doubling year on year.

Figures from China Customs, compiled by Vino Joy News, confirmed the spike. In August 2025, China exported 7,203,322 liters of beer to Russia worth $6,740,391, representing year-on-year increases of 111.14% in volume and 113.19% in value. For the first time, Russia overtook all other destinations to become the largest buyer of Chinese beer.

The momentum has stretched across the year. From January through August, China exported 32,198,008 liters of beer to Russia valued at US$29,251,805, up 58.24% in volume and 63.80% in value compared with the same period a year earlier. During that span, Russia ranked as China’s fourth-largest beer export market, behind Taiwan, Myanmar and Hong Kong.

Russian importers have also begun diversifying supplies from other Asian neighbors. Since mid-September, Far East distributor Vostok-Energya has started importing and distributing “Tumen River 11,” a beer produced in North Korea’s Rason region, as we have reported.

For decades, Germany, Belgium and other European nations were Russia’s primary beer suppliers. But that dominance has been shaken by recent tariff increases.

In April 2024, Russia raised import duties on beer from “unfriendly countries” from €0.04 per liter to €0.10 per liter. The Ministry of Industry and Trade said the measure was not a ban but an attempt to improve the competitiveness of domestic breweries.

A further hike followed this September, when Russia increased tariffs on malt beer from “unfriendly countries” from €1 per liter to €1.50.

Because the European Union as a whole is classified as “unfriendly,” German and Belgian brewers now face higher barriers to the Russian market. By contrast, Chinese and North Korean producers have benefited, gaining access to a reshaped trade landscape.

Analysts say whether Chinese brewers can convert this “policy window” into long-term market share will depend on more than tariffs. Product quality, brand recognition and supply chain reliability will be critical factors in determining if China’s current surge becomes a lasting foothold in Russia’s consumer market.