In March 2025, dairy farms of all categories of producers produced 556 thousand tons of raw milk, which is 117 thousand tons or 27% more than in February 2025, but 20 thousand tons or 4% less than in March 2024, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association noted that the volume of milk yield in Ukraine in January-March 2025 amounted to 1.44 million tons, which is 53 thousand tons (-4%) less than last year. In March 2025, the share of enterprises in the production of raw milk amounted to 49%, and households – 51%.
According to the report, in March 2025, enterprises produced 272 thousand tons of raw milk, which is 33 thousand tons more (+14%) compared to February 2025 and 16 thousand tons more (+6%) compared to March 2024. In January-March 2025, MTFs produced 771 thousand tons of raw milk, which is 37 thousand tons (+5%) more than in the previous year.
In March 2025, milk yields in private households amounted to 284 thousand tons, which is 84 thousand tons more (+42%) than in February 2025, but 37 thousand tons less (-11%) than in March 2024. In January-March 2025, the private sector produced 676 thousand tons of raw milk, which is 90 thousand tons (-12%) less than in the previous year.
AVM analyst Giorgi Kukhaleishvili emphasized that in the first quarter of 2025, the number of regions where MTFs increased their production of raw milk increased. Khmelnytsky, Ternopil and Zhytomyr regions are among the new leaders in terms of production. However, the increase in milk yields in the industrial sector is not entirely beneficial for the dairy industry amid the unstable situation on the finished dairy products market, the global dairy market, and the unstable dynamics of purchase prices.
“The volume of dairy production in Ukraine is currently outstripping the volume of its sales. The domestic market is experiencing a decline in demand for dairy products amid intensified rocket and bomb attacks by the Russian occupiers on cities with a population of over a million people and the outflow of their residents abroad. At the same time, dairy processing enterprises are striving to help restore demand for dairy products from the population through discounts and promotional offers in retail chains,” the business association explained.
Further increase in cheese imports is also a threat to the development of the industry, at the current rate of imports, by the end of 2025 the share of imported cheese in the Ukrainian market may reach 80%, which will force domestic cheese factories to stop their work and the situation with a surplus of milk may worsen.
The EBA emphasized that the potential threat of foot-and-mouth disease, which has been reported in Hungary and Slovakia, is a challenge for the Ukrainian dairy industry.
“The spread of the disease creates risks of increased culling of infected livestock and the introduction of quarantine restrictions on farms, a ban on the export of dairy products from Ukraine,” the industry association summarized.
Refined copper production in the world in 2025 will increase by about 2.9% to 28.9 million tons, according to the International Copper Study Group (ICSG).
This will be driven by the expansion of production capacity in China and the launch of new facilities in other countries, primarily in Indonesia, India and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
In 2026, copper production is expected to grow by 1.5% to over 30.8 million tons.
Demand for copper this year is expected to increase by 2.4% to 28 million tons. “Given the uncertainty surrounding international trade policy, which is likely to weaken the global economic outlook and negatively impact copper demand, the growth rate estimate has been revised downward from the group’s September forecast, which assumed a 2.7% increase,” the report said.
In 2026, global copper consumption may increase by 1.8% to about 28.5 million tons.
At the same time, demand in China is projected to grow by about 2% in 2025 and 0.8% next year, according to experts.
In 2024, the world recorded a copper surplus of 138 thousand tons. This year, the surplus of the metal on the global market is expected to be about 289 thousand tons, and in 2026 – 209 thousand tons.
When making forecasts, ICSG understands that the situation on the global market can change under the influence of numerous factors, the report says.
The International Copper Study Group, established in 1992, is an intergovernmental organization that serves as a vehicle for international discussion and cooperation on copper-related issues. The ICSG is the only multilateral institution dealing with copper production, consumption and trade. The group consists of 25 countries, including the European Union, Kazakhstan and Russia.
The volume of cattle slaughter in Ukraine in March almost doubled (+97%) compared to the previous month, to 20.1 thousand tons from 10 thousand tons, but was 10% (2.3 thousand tons) less than in March 2024, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association noted that in January-March 2025, slaughter volumes in Ukraine amounted to 44 thousand tons, which is 3 thousand tons (-7%) less than in the previous year. In March 2025, enterprises produced 33% of beef from the total slaughter volume, and households – 67%.
The AMP cited preliminary data from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, according to which in March this year the volume of cattle slaughter at enterprises reached 6.6 thousand tons, which is 400 tons more (+ 6%) than in February 2025, however, 300 tons less (-4%) than in March 2024. In the first quarter of 2025, slaughter volumes at agricultural enterprises amounted to 13.3 thousand tons, which is 300 tons (+2%) more than in the same period last year.
In March 2025, the slaughter of cattle in households amounted to 4 thousand tons, which is 3 thousand tons less (-40%) compared to February 2025 and 1 thousand tons less (-13%) compared to March 2024. In January-March 2025, slaughter volumes in households amounted to 19.9 thousand tons, which corresponds to the figures for the first quarter of 2024.
At the same time, the total slaughter of farm animals, not only cattle, but also pigs, sheep, and birds in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to 749.4 thousand tons, which is 3% less than in January-March a year ago.
The business association said that in March 2025, slaughter volumes increased most significantly at agricultural enterprises in Zakarpattia (+214%), Zaporizhzhia (+71%), Mykolaiv (+41%), Kharkiv (+42%), Chernivtsi (+32%) regions compared to March last year.
Most of the slaughtered animals were sold by agricultural enterprises in Vinnytsia (155.4 thousand tons), Cherkasy (102.6 thousand tons), Dnipropetrovs’k (87.9 thousand tons), Lviv (44.8 thousand tons) and Kyiv (31.4 thousand tons) regions.
The summit of Central Asian countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will be held on May 5 in Samarkand. This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov following the third meeting of foreign ministers in the format of the Central Asia – GCC strategic dialogue.
“We are looking forward to the Samarkand Summit on May 5 – an important milestone on the way to deepening ties between our regions. United by common values, strategic potential and unity of vision, we are building a new chapter in cooperation between Central Asia and the Gulf states,” the Uzbek Foreign Minister wrote on his telegram channel.
Celebrations on the occasion of the spring festival Navruz took place on April 23 in Kyiv, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in Ukraine together with the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine and the Public Diplomacy Foundation.
The event was attended by more than 600 people: representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, the Kyiv City State Administration, ambassadors and diplomats of foreign countries, heads of international and regional organizations, rectors and teachers of higher education institutions, figures of science, culture, business and public organizations.
The cultural program of the event included watching videos about Navruz celebrations and tourism opportunities in Tajikistan, recitation of poems by Tajik classics by students of the Faculty of Oriental Studies of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, demonstration of national costumes of Tajikistan and Ukraine, and a joint concert with folk songs and dances.
As part of the celebration, an exhibition of photographs of Tajik women in national costumes, including chakan and atlas, as well as paintings by Ukrainian artist Lyudmyla Kobycheva “Philosophy of Spring” and works from the Ethno Fashion collection by Kateryna Potlova “Peace to Your Family, Ukraine!” were organized.
Among the guests of honor were People’s Artist of Ukraine Femiy Mustafayev, Honored Artist of Ukraine Olena Dobroziy, and the head of the Kalinochka artistic collective Maria Yastrebova.
In his speech, Ambassador of Tajikistan to Ukraine Davlatali Nazarzoda emphasized the historical importance of Nowruz as a holiday of ancestors, which, thanks to the efforts of Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, has become a worldwide holiday. He emphasized the unifying role of Nowruz in the development of intercultural relations.
Vadym Tkachuk, Rector of the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, emphasized that the celebration at the university helps to strengthen international relations and exchange of cultural traditions.
Yaroslav Hadzalo, President of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, expressed his respect for the Tajik people and emphasized the need to expand cooperation between Ukraine and Tajikistan in the field of agricultural development.
Head of the Public Diplomacy Foundation of Ukraine Fedir Lavrynenko emphasized the importance of public diplomacy as an important factor in bringing different peoples and cultures closer together.
Comparing the traditions of Tajik Navruz and Ukrainian Easter, Ukrainian orientalist Oleksandr Shokalo emphasized the deep cultural parallels between the two nations.
At the end of the celebration, the participants had the opportunity to socialize at the festive tables, where Tajik and Ukrainian national dishes were presented.
The culmination of the celebration was a football match for the Cup of the Ambassador of Tajikistan and the Rector of the University between the joint team of the Embassy and the Tajik diaspora and the team of NULES of Ukraine.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/diplomats/1067312.html
