Minsk, Belarus – The Belarusian government has unveiled a sweeping new alcohol production strategy for 2026, signaling a clear and deliberate pivot towards bolstering the nation’s iconic vodka industry while significantly curbing output for fruit-based beverages. The changes, confirmed by Reform.news, represent a bold move intended to reshape the country’s beverage market.
At the heart of this initiative is a massive expansion of vodka production. The total volume earmarked for vodka is set to surge by a staggering 69,000 decalitres, reaching a total of 10.354 million decalitres. This represents a fundamental shift, reflecting a strategic focus on capitalizing on the global demand for Belarusian vodka.
However, the most impactful change lies in the dramatic reduction of fruit and berry wines. Production is slated to plummet by 465,300 decalitres, dropping to just 4.252 million decalitres. This reduction raises questions about the long-term viability of Belarus’s fruit wine sector and could lead to a significant change in consumer preferences.
Alongside this core shift, the government is introducing several new alcohol categories, aiming to diversify offerings. These include fruit vodka (10,500 decalitres), honey vodka (3,000 decalitres), and grape vodka (2,500 decalitres), indicating a desire to explore new market segments. The introduction of fortified fruit wines, with an unspecified volume, adds further complexity.
Despite these changes, certain established categories are seeing limited growth. Production of raw spirit from food raw materials will increase by 210,000 decalitres, rectified spirit by 210,000 decalitres, and cognac by 1.152 million decalitres. Strong spirits and grape wine coolers are experiencing declines, and rum faces a minor reduction.
These quotas will be distributed amongst key players including Minsk, Belhospishcheprom, Belkoopsoyuz, and the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The government has stated it reserves the right to adjust these figures throughout the year.
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