Kyrgyzstan spent $19 million on alcohol imports in first half of 2026

Kyrgyzstan's trade balance for alcoholic beverages and beer showed a significant deficit in the first half of 2026, with imports reaching $19.18 million against exports of $7.96 million. This imbalance highlights a substantial reliance on foreign alcohol.

The largest portion of import spending, $9.11 million, was allocated to strong spirits. Beer followed closely, with $7.95 million spent on imports. Natural grape wines constituted a smaller but still notable expenditure of $1.73 million. Russia emerged as the leading supplier, contributing significantly to both strong spirit and beer imports, followed by Kazakhstan, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Ireland.

On the export side, beer dominated Kyrgyzstan's outbound alcohol trade, generating $5.26 million. Ethyl alcohol exports reached $1.81 million, while strong spirits and natural grape wines contributed less. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan were the primary destinations for Kyrgyz alcohol exports, with Kazakhstan being a major buyer of beer and wine, and Azerbaijan importing a significant amount of ethyl alcohol.

A notable anomaly occurred in June, drastically altering the trade deficit. While the first five months saw a 16.2-fold difference between imports and exports, June alone brought in $7 million from foreign sales. This surge was largely driven by a 21.7-fold increase in beer exports compared to the preceding months, facilitated by contracts with Belarus. Interestingly, June also saw a spike in foreign beer imports, accounting for nearly 37% of the half-year's total beer import costs, coinciding with warmer weather.