MOSCOW, August 10 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's alcohol imports in the first half of 2005 totaled $522.5 million more (an increase of 21.1%) than the same period last year, the National Alcohol Association reported Wednesday.
Wine imports totaled $241 million (251 million liters), and vermouth and cider imports totaled $32 million (8 million liters). Imports of strong drinks totaled $250 million (64 million liters), including vodka and liquors - worth $115 million (50 million liters).
Ethyl alcohol was not imported. Russia imported 2.5 times more strong drinks in the first half of this year than the same period in 2004. Eighty percent of all vodka and liquor imports were Ukrainian.
Wine imports grew by 18% year-on-year, mainly due to wines from Moldova, France, Georgia, Bulgaria, and Spain. Georgian wine imports grew by 50%.
