Kvass production drops 10% in first half of year

© изображение сгенерировал ИИ

In the first half of 2026, Russia produced 544.5 million liters of kvass, a traditional fermented beverage, marking a 9.2% decline compared to the same period last year, according to data from the "Chestny Znak" system reported by Kommersant.

Experts note that this is one of the most significant drops among labeled beverages. The decline in kvass production is attributed to reduced consumer demand. According to the Union of Juice, Water and Beverage Producers, natural kvass sales fell by 19% year-on-year in April-March.

The decrease in demand is linked to prolonged rains in central Russia and the price increase of the beverage following the introduction of an excise tax on sugar-containing drinks. According to "Chestny Znak," the average price of kvass in the second quarter of 2026 was 90 rubles per liter, a 12.5% increase from the previous year. This is the most noticeable price hike among labeled beverages. For example, juices and nectars rose by 0.1%, iced teas by 0.5%, and juice-containing drinks by 1.2%. Overall, production of such beverages decreased by 4.2% year-on-year to 6.2 billion liters since the beginning of the year.