Kazakhstan Vodka Importers List 2017

Verified directory of 12 Kazakh importer companies registered in 2017 for HS Chapter 22.08 spirits imports (vodka, whisky, gin, rum, cognac/brandy, liqueur, grappa, spirit tinctures, and flavor additives used in vodka production). Companies span the full Kazakhstan alcohol distribution value chain: global spirits majors' Kazakhstan subsidiaries (Pernod Ricard, Bacardi-Martini), travel-retail duty-free operators (Dufry Central Asia, Orient Eagle Duty Free), multi-category spirits distributors (ADF, Brig, Logistock), specialty cognac/grappa importers (Farvater, Stell, Orange Trading), and flavor additive importers (Company Obis, Interrom). All companies headquartered in Almaty (Kazakhstan's commercial capital) with satellite operations in Astana (national capital).

🥃 About HS 22.08 — Undenatured Ethyl Alcohol & Spirits

HS Chapter 22.08 covers "Undenatured ethyl alcohol of an alcoholic strength by volume of less than 80% vol.; spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages" — the principal HS classification for all distilled alcoholic beverages imported into Kazakhstan. The chapter subdivides into specific 8-digit subheadings based on beverage type and container size: HS 2208.60 — Vodka (the focus of this importer list, primarily sub-code 2208601100 covering vodka in containers of 2L or less — the standard retail packaging); HS 2208.30 — Whisky (Scotch, Irish, American, Japanese subcategories); HS 2208.20 — Cognac/Brandy & Grape Spirits (incl. Armagnac, grappa, Georgian/Armenian/Moldovan cognac); HS 2208.50 — Gin & Genevar; HS 2208.40 — Rum & Tafia; HS 2208.70 — Liqueurs; HS 2208.90 — Other Spirits (incl. tequila, baijiu, soju, sake-based spirits).

The vodka segment (HS 2208.60) is by far the largest spirits category in Kazakhstan — both in import volume and domestic consumption. Kazakhstan's vodka consumption is estimated at ~5.5–7.0 liters of pure alcohol per capita annually (one of the highest in the world, comparable to Russia and Belarus), with vodka accounting for ~70% of total alcohol consumption. While domestic Kazakh vodka production (Georgiyevskaya, Astana Vodka, Karaganda-based producers) covers the majority of consumption, premium and international-brand vodka imports under HS 2208.60 reached approximately 1.2–1.8 million litres in 2017, with a customs value of approximately USD 25–35 million.

Kazakhstan's vodka and spirits import market is heavily dominated by EAEU-origin imports (Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan) due to 0% intra-EAEU tariff and shared regulatory framework. Russian vodka (via National Vodka Company LLC — НВК) accounts for the largest share of imported vodka volume. Premium vodka brands (Absolut, Grey Goose, Beluga, Mammoth) account for a smaller volume share but dominate value terms. The 2017 import pattern reflects post-2014 devaluation of the Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT) — which made imported vodka significantly more expensive in local currency — with consequent shift to lower-priced Russian/Belarusian vodka brands. The 2017 figures also reflect the implementation of EAEU Technical Regulation TR EAEU 047/2017 (Alcohol Product Safety) which came into effect in 2018, prompting pre-regulation stockpiling by importers.

📊 Kazakhstan Vodka & Spirits Market Overview (2017)

In 2017, Kazakhstan imported approximately 1.2–1.8 million litres of vodka (HS 2208.60) with a customs value of USD 25–35 million, plus 1.5–2.2 million litres of other spirits (whisky, gin, rum, cognac, liqueur, grappa — HS 2208.20–2208.90) valued at approximately USD 40–55 million. Combined vodka + other spirits imports totaled approximately 3.0–4.0 million litres / USD 65–90 million. The 12 importer companies on this list represent the principal vodka and spirits buyers in Kazakhstan for 2017, with the largest single importers by volume being ТОО «ПЕРНО РИКАР КАЗАХСТАН» (Absolut Vodka, etc.) and ТОО «LOGISTOCK» (Russian National Vodka Company brands), and the largest by number of B/L declarations being ТОО «АДФ» (11+ separate shipments in 2017) and ТОО БРИГ (7+ shipments).

The 2017 supplier country pattern reflects Kazakhstan's geopolitical position: 🇷🇺 Russia (~50% of imports) — Russian vodka (Russian Standard, Beluga, Mamont, Khaskaya, Pyat Ozer) via National Vodka Company LLC; 🇫🇷 France (~12%) — Pernod Ricard portfolio (Absolut, Grey Goose, Chivas, Martell) via Latvian HQ; 🇬🇧 UK (~8%) — Diageo portfolio (Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Tanqueray, Gordon's) not directly listed but enters via intermediaries; 🇲🇩 Moldova (~7%) — Moldovan cognac/brandy (Cricova, Kvint) via DK Intertrade; 🇬🇪 Georgia (~6%) — Georgian cognac via Sarajishvili; 🇮🇹 Italy (~5%) — Grappa + Italian spirits (La Scolca); 🇱🇻 Latvia (~5%) — intermediary EU transit hub; 🇦🇹 Austria (~4%) — flavor additives (Esarom); 🇨🇭 Switzerland (~3%) — Bacardi via Tradall S.A. Swiss routing.

Kazakhstan applies EAEU common external tariff on HS 22.08 imports: €0.5–2.0 per litre of pure alcohol (specific duty based on alcohol strength), plus ad valorem rate of 15–18% (varies by subheading), plus VAT (12% Kazakhstan standard rate) plus federal alcohol excise (KZT 2,200/litre of pure alcohol in 2017, rising to KZT 2,800 in 2018). Imports from EAEU partners (Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia) face 0% customs duty but still owe Kazakhstan federal alcohol excise. Imports from non-EAEU origins face the full EAEU common external tariff structure. All alcohol imports require federal import licence from the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan and consumer labelling in Russian/Kazakh language.

🥃 Kazakhstan Vodka & Spirits Importers — 12 Companies (2017)

International dialing code: +7 · Companies listed with foreign partner, HS codes imported, products, location, and brief. Note: Pernod Ricard (France), Bacardi-Martini (Bermuda/Switzerland), Dufry (Switzerland) are global spirits/travel-retail multinationals with Kazakhstan subsidiaries. Some entries with no foreign partner disclosed reflect Russian/EAEU-origin imports where intermediary disclosure not required under EAEU common customs framework.

🏷️ HS Code Classification for Vodka & Spirits Imports to Kazakhstan

Source: WCO Harmonized System 2022 + Kazakhstan Customs Code (Кодекс РК «О таможенном регулировании») + EAEU Common Customs Tariff 2017. EAEU applies compound duty on HS 22.08: specific component (€0.5–2.0 per litre of pure alcohol) + ad valorem component (15–18%) + Kazakhstan VAT (12%) + Kazakhstan federal alcohol excise (KZT 2,200/litre pure alcohol in 2017). Intra-EAEU imports face 0% customs duty but still owe federal alcohol excise.

🌍 Supplier Countries — Where Kazakhstan Imports Vodka & Spirits From

Source: Kazakhstan Customs Committee trade statistics 2017 for HS 22.08. Russia dominates due to EAEU free trade and historic Soviet-era supply chain. Latvia serves as the EU-side transit hub for European spirits (Pernod Ricard, Bacardi, Diageo, etc.) due to its EU membership, EAEU-EU border location, and developed spirits-bonded warehousing infrastructure.

🏛️ Kazakhstan Alcohol Import Regulatory Framework

Kazakhstan vodka and spirits imports under HS 22.08 are regulated under a multi-agency framework: Kazakhstan Customs Committee (КК КГД МФ РК) under State Revenue Ministry handles customs declarations via the Automated Customs Data System (АС АКУ); Kazakhstan Ministry of National Economy (Committee on Consumer Protection) issues federal alcohol import licences; Kazakhstan Ministry of Health (Sanitary-Epidemiological Service) issues sanitary-epidemiological conclusions; Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) sets EAEU-wide TR EAEU 047/2017 (Alcohol Product Safety) technical regulation effective 2018 (pre-regulation stockpiling visible in 2017 import data).

All imported alcoholic beverages must comply with: (1) Federal alcohol import licence from the Ministry of National Economy — required for any commercial alcohol importer; (2) Unified Alcohol Information System (ЕГАИС) mandatory registration of all alcohol imports from raw material to retail sale — analogue of Russian ЕГАИС; (3) Russian/Cyrillic & Kazakh language consumer labelling with mandatory information (alcohol content, volume, manufacturer, country of origin, health warnings); (4) Excise stamps affixed to each retail bottle (Kazakhstan federal alcohol excise stamps); (5) Phyto/quarantine + food safety certification from origin country.

Major border entries for alcohol imports include: Khorgos Cross-Border Free Trade Zone (Kazakhstan-China — for Chinese-packaged alcohol), Dostyk rail crossing (Kazakhstan-China), Aktau Caspian Sea Port (for Russian/Iranian transit), Syr-Darya/Chernyaevka (Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan land crossing — for transit from Russia via Uzbekistan), Kurk Railway crossing (Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan — for transit from Russia via Kyrgyzstan), Almaty Cargo Airport (ALA) (air freight — premium whisky and liqueurs), Astana Cargo Airport (TSE/NQZ) (air freight — premium spirits). The most common port is Khorgos (rail/road from China) for trans-shipped European spirits bonded-warehoused in Hong Kong or Shanghai.

💡 For International Vodka & Spirits Exporters Targeting Kazakhstan

International vodka and spirits exporters — particularly Russian (Beluga, Russian Standard, Mamont, Pyat Ozer), French (Pernod Ricard Absolut/Grey Goose/Martell), British (Diageo Johnnie Walker/Smirnoff/Tanqueray), Swedish (Absolut — owned by Pernod Ricard since 2008), Italian (Grappa La Scolca), Moldovan (Cricova, Kvint), Georgian (Sarajishvili), American (Brown-Forman Jack Daniel's; Beam Suntory Jim Beam) — will find the 12 Kazakh importer companies on this list to be the principal entry points for vodka and spirits supply into the Kazakhstan market. Each importer segment has different procurement channels:

• Global spirits majors' subsidiaries (Pernod Ricard, Bacardi-Martini): Procure via the parent company's regional supply chain (Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe Operations SIA in Latvia; Bacardi GmbH Germany via Tradall S.A. Switzerland). In-house brand portfolio distribution.
• Travel-retail duty-free (Dufry Central Asia, Orient Eagle Duty Free): Procure via parent company global supply (Dufry Supply & Logistics FZE UAE) or via intermediary trading company (TOO ADF for Orient Eagle). Travel-retail specific SKUs — 1L bottle formats and exclusive travel-retail variants.
• Multi-category spirits distributors (ADF, Brig, Logistock): Procure via intermediary trading companies (SIA Optimodals Baltija Latvia, National Vodka Company LLC Russia, DK Intertrade SRL Moldova). Multi-brand portfolios — both premium and mid-market segments.
• Specialty cognac/grappa importers (Farvater, Stell, Orange Trading): Procure directly from producers (Sarajishvili Georgia, La Scolca Italy, Colusvin Moldova) — often exclusive distribution agreements.
• Flavor additive importers (Company Obis, Interrom): Procure from Austrian Esarom GmbH — flavor compounds used in domestic Kazakhstan flavored vodka production (pomegranate-flavored vodka, citrus-flavored vodka, etc.).

Key engagement points: (1) WorldFood Almaty (annual trade fair, October) — Kazakhstan's largest food & beverage trade exhibition; (2) ProWein Düsseldorf (annual March, Germany) — world's leading wine & spirits trade fair; (3) Vinitaly Verona (April) — Italian wine/spirits fair; (4) TFWA World Exhibition (Cannes, October) — global duty-free & travel retail fair (for Dufry/Orient Eagle Duty Free engagement); (5) KazakhInvest (national investment promotion agency) for foreign spirits companies considering direct subsidiary establishment; (6) Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs for direct B2B outreach; (7) EAEU Single Window customs system for Russian/Belarusian/Kyrgyz/Armenian FTA-origin suppliers simplifies intra-EAEU trade.

TurkExim — Kazakhstan Vodka B/L Database

Need customs declaration (B/L) data for all Kazakhstan vodka and spirits imports in 2017? TurkExim Data Desk offers the complete importer database with B/L records for HS Chapter 22.08 (vodka, whisky, gin, rum, cognac, liqueur, grappa, spirit tinctures, flavor additives) — with supplier countries (Russia, France, UK, Italy, Moldova, Georgia, Latvia, Austria, Switzerland), import volumes, declared values, ports of entry (Khorgos, Dostyk, Aktau, Almaty ALA, Astana NQZ), shipment dates, brand/variant, and consignee company names. Excel/CSV formats. WhatsApp for pricing.