In 2024, alcoholic drinks in Uzbekistan registered a slight decrease in total volume sales, but a double-digit increase in total current value sales, driven by high inflation, higher production costs and strong pressure on consumer purchasing power. As consumer spending was shaped by limited purchasing power and heightened price-sensitivity, price increases contributed to retail value sales growth. The overall reduction in the consumption of alcoholic drinks was also due to the religious factor, as Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol. Additionally, the presence of a growing grey market poses a significant challenge to the legal market, especially for vodka. In response, the government has established the Inspectorate for Regulation of the Alcohol and Tobacco Market under the General Prosecutor's Office.
Beer was the largest category within alcoholic drinks in 2024, despite a further slight drop in total volume sales. The decline in beer consumption in Uzbekistan was mainly due to rising prices and religious factors. Excise taxes also increased steadily, with a double-digit hike in 2023 and an additional mid-single-digit increase in mid-2024, leading to higher retail prices. Within beer, domestic economy lager remained the largest category, supported by strong sales of affordable draft beer and beer in PET bottles, which are still permitted and widely preferred for their low cost and convenience.
Inter Rokhat was the leading company in alcoholic drinks in total volume terms in 2024, with a marginal rise in share. The company produces Qibray economy and premium lagers to lead the main category, beer. High consumer awareness and a long-established presence in the market are key competitive advantages.
Food/drink/tobacco specialists remained the overwhelmingly dominant channel in alcoholic drinks overall in off-trade volume share terms in 2024. However, the channel continued to cede off-trade value share to small local grocers. Although modern retail outlets and supermarkets are legally permitted to sell alcohol, most supermarkets and hypermarkets choose not to offer strong alcoholic beverages, primarily due to religious and cultural sensitivities rather than regulatory restrictions.
Following rebounds from the slump in demand in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, on-trade volume sales saw only slight growth in 2023 and flat growth in 2024. The category’s volume share varies from category to category. For example, consumers largely purchase beer and wine through the off-trade channel. In contrast, for spirits overall, the share split is quite close in favour of the off-trade channel. Meanwhile, the on-trade channel led volume sales of bitters, rum, gin, whiskies and tequila.
Over the forecast period, alcoholic drinks in Uzbekistan is expected to experience mixed performances. Overall, alcoholic drinks is projected to see a flat total volume CAGR. The dominant category, beer, is set to post a slightly positive total volume CAGR, following players’ recovery efforts as they adjust to new excise taxes and recent price rises?. Wine is also predicted to see a positive total volume CAGR, although a negative performance is expected for spirits. Spirits’ projected decline in total volume sales is largely due to falling vodka consumption and changing religious-conscious habits?. However, some newer categories, like tequila, gin, whiskies, rum and bitters are expected to see positive total volume CAGRs, reflecting the growing interest in cocktails and premium drinking experiences, especially among younger consumers of legal drinking age.
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Alcoholic Drinks
Alcoholic drinks is the aggregation of beer, wine, spirits, cider/perry and RTDs.
See all of our definitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Alcoholic Drinks research and analysis database.
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