In 2024, Ukraine exported 118,000 tons of dairy products, which is almost twice as much as imports, which reached 60,000 tons, according to the infographic “Dairy Map of Ukraine” for 2024, prepared by the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
“Despite military losses, targeted shelling and destruction, a forced new wave of closures and relocations of farms from war-torn regions, exhausting blackouts and record heat in June-September 2024, which caused more than 50% of industrial farms to experience a significant drop in milk yields, the Ukrainian dairy industry has demonstrated significant achievements,” the industry association said.
As of January 1, 2025, the number of cows in the industrial sector increased by 1% compared to the previous period. The top five regions in terms of industrial livestock numbers, which together account for 51% of the total industrial cow population in Ukraine, are Poltava (52,700 head), Cherkasy (44,000 head), Chernihiv (35,400 head), Kyiv (34,000 head), and Vinnytsia (31,500 head).
At the same time, the largest increase in the industrial cow population last year was recorded in Mykolaiv (+14%), Ternopil (+10%), Khmelnytskyi (+5%), Cherkasy (+4%), and Kyiv (+3%) regions.
At the same time, there were losses, primarily in the frontline regions, in particular in Zaporizhzhia (-88%), Kharkiv (-47%), Sumy and Chernivtsi (-22%), as well as in Chernihiv (-11%).
According to the AVM, last year more than 90% of raw milk sent for processing was obtained from industrial farms. The leading regions in terms of production were Poltava (445.2 thousand tons), Cherkasy (371.5 thousand tons), Chernihiv (268.3 thousand tons), Kyiv (266.5 thousand tons), and Vinnytsia (260.2 thousand tons).
The largest increase in raw milk production over the year was recorded in the Mykolaiv (+18%), Ternopil (+13%), Khmelnytskyi (+9%), and Zhytomyr and Poltava (+8%) regions. In contrast, a significant decline in production was recorded in the Zaporizhzhia (-87%), Kharkiv (-45%), and Sumy (-6%) regions.
Despite blackouts and abnormal heat in June-September 2024, which led to a 25% reduction in milk yields in more than half of farms, industrial dairy farms (MTF) showed record productivity growth last year. In particular, the average milk yield in the industrial sector reached 8,167 kg/cow per year, which is almost 20% higher than in pre-war 2021.
Analysts noted five regions with the highest productivity of industrial cows in 2024, including: Ternopil (9,905 kg/cow per year), Mykolaiv (9,189 kg/cow per year), Khmelnytskyi (8,817 kg/cow per year), Poltava (8,447 kg/cow per year), and Cherkasy (8,443 kg/cow per year).
In addition, milk quality indicators have improved, with 55% of milk delivered for processing being extra grade and 25.3% being premium grade.
As for the average consumption of dairy products in Ukraine, analysts noted a 4% increase in 2024 to 209.3 kg/person compared to previous and pre-war years. Thus, despite the full-scale invasion, emigration, and reduced purchasing power, Ukrainians maintain stable demand for dairy products.
At the same time, exports of dairy products last year amounted to 118,020 tons, with cash proceeds of $296.81 million (+16% compared to 2023 and +20% compared to 2021).
The top five export categories included dry and condensed milk (25%), cheese (18%), butter (16%), casein (14%), and ice cream (14%).
Last year, 60.27 thousand tons of dairy products worth $290.34 million were delivered to Ukraine, with cheese accounting for 78% of imports. In monetary terms, the value of deliveries increased by 10% by 2023 but decreased by 24% by 2021.
Ukraine maintained a positive foreign trade balance in dairy products last year, exporting almost twice as much as it imported (118 thousand tons against 60 thousand tons), with almost the same value ($296.81 million in exports against $290.34 million in imports).
“This indicates the high added value of imported goods (mainly cheese) and a larger volume of exports (e.g., milk powder, butter, casein),” analysts concluded.
