Ukraine, in the context of a full-scale Russian military invasion in January-August 2022, exported 59.4 thousand tons of dairy products, which is comparable to last year.
As reported on the Facebook page of the association “Ukrainian Agrarian Business Club” (UCAB) on Monday, the supply of dairy products to foreign markets grew especially rapidly in August – up to 12.7 thousand tons, which is twice as high as in August 2021.
According to the UCAB, in August 2022, Ukraine exported 3.58 thousand tons of non-condensed milk and cream (a threefold increase compared to June), 3.26 thousand tons of condensed milk and cream (twice as much), 273 tons of butter dish (50% less), 2.53 thousand tons of whey (72% more), 2.14 thousand tons of butter (3.5 times more), 1 thousand tons of cheeses of all types (62% more more).
In addition, in the summer of 2022 (June-August), Ukraine exported 31.5 thousand tons of dairy products, which is 52% of actual exports for the eight months of this year, as well as 40% more than in the same period of 2021.
The largest importers of Ukrainian products for eight months of 2022 were Moldova – 4.4 thousand tons, Poland – 2.4 thousand tons, China – 900 tons.
As noted by UCAB, imports of dairy products to Ukraine are gradually declining. Thus, according to its data, 42.3 thousand tons were imported in eight months, which is 37% less than last year. In August, 5 thousand tons of dairy products were imported, of which the majority were cheeses of all kinds (3.1 thousand tons).
“In January-August, the foreign trade balance is passive and amounts to $2.3 million. If in September the export rates remain the same as in August, then the foreign trade balance may already be active and overall trade will be more positive for the industry,” – the association quotes the expert Maxim Gopka.
As reported, in May 2022, the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine association predicted that this year milk production would decrease by 13-16% – to 7.33-7.56 million tons from 8.73 million in 2021, the depth crisis in the industry will be determined by the development of hostilities.
It is expected that the average milk consumption in Ukraine per capita in 2022 will increase by 8% – from 212 kg in 2021 to 229 kg this year due to internal and external migration of the population.
