In March 2026, Ukraine exported 12,430 metric tons of dairy products worth $35.38 million, which is 25.1% more in volume than in February and 44% more in revenue, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP), citing data from the State Statistics Service.
As noted by the industry association, exports by volume increased by only 1% compared to March 2025, while revenue decreased by 7%.
In total, in the first quarter of 2026, the country exported 30,560 tons of dairy products (-2%) worth $81.46 million (-9%) to foreign markets. In March, the key products were condensed milk and cream (25% of exports), cheese (17%), butter (15%), and casein (15%).
ABM analysts attribute the increase in shipments in March to the war in the Middle East and the logistical collapse in Iran, which had been a major competitor to Ukraine in the markets of Iraq, the Persian Gulf countries, and Central Asia. Due to disruptions in Iranian exports, buyers began returning to Ukrainian suppliers, whose product prices are currently nearly identical.
In March 2026, compared to February, Ukraine increased exports of condensed milk to 3,600 tons (+20%), whey to 1,710 tons (+24%), cheese to 1,320 tons (+14%), and ice cream to 1,370 tons (+96%). However, shipments of non-condensed milk fell to 2,010 tons (-10%). Revenue from condensed milk rose to $8.92 million, and from cheese to $6.15 million.
“Increased supply of raw materials and weak domestic demand are forcing processors to expand more actively into foreign markets. Despite quotas, the EU’s share of export revenue reached 36%. In particular, Germany has become a strategic market for casein and fresh cheeses under private label, while Poland, in addition to importing into Ukraine, is actively purchasing our butter and dry whey,” the association noted.
Against the backdrop of rising exports, imports are intensifying pressure on the domestic market. In January–March, Ukraine imported 16,950 tons of dairy products (+10%) worth $83.18 million, with cheese accounting for 63%. Experts warned that the surplus of European cheeses being redirected from China poses a threat to domestic cheese producers and could lead to a drop in milk purchase prices in Ukraine.
The foreign trade balance in the first quarter of 2026 remained negative at -$1.72 million.
To stabilize the situation, the industry association is insisting on the introduction of state protective measures against uncontrolled imports from the EU.
Prices for dairy products in Ukraine rose in March 2026 due to increased logistics costs, higher energy prices, and a surge in exports, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association noted that pasteurized milk with a fat content of up to 2.6% in film packaging rose in price by 0.99 UAH (+2.1%) over the month—to 48.86 UAH/kg, while the price in plastic bottles rose by 0.93 UAH (+1.4%) to 66.86 UAH/kg. The cheapest milk in the category remains the “Adalis” brand (41.99 UAH/kg), while the most expensive are ‘Yagotynske’ (57.77 UAH/kg) and “Galychyna” (72.73 UAH/kg).
Kefir with 2.5% fat content in film packaging costs an average of 58.52 UAH/kg, which is 1.62 UAH less than a month ago. Meanwhile, the price of the product in plastic bottles remained stable at 78.10 UAH/kg. Sour cream with 15% fat content in cups rose in price by 0.72 UAH to 190.59 UAH/kg, while drinking yogurt increased in price by 3.5% and costs an average of 124.35 UAH/kg. Sour milk cheese with 9% fat content rose in price by 1% to 292.31 UAH/kg.
Domestically produced butter (72.5–73%) rose in price by 2% to 585.51 UAH/kg. Analysts noted that imported President butter costs 960 UAH/kg, which is 64% more expensive than Ukrainian products.
“Ukrainian” cheese (50%) rose in price to 608.80 UAH/kg, and “Dutch” cheese (45%) to 610.05 UAH/kg (+3.3%). The most significant increase was recorded for “Maasdam” cheese, which rose in price by 6.6% to 768.37 UAH/kg. Meanwhile, imported equivalents of ‘Maasdam’ and “Gouda” from the Kroon brand cost 31% less than domestic products.
ABM analysts also attribute the rise in costs to the situation in the Persian Gulf, which caused a spike in prices for petroleum products and freight.
“Domestic sales of locally produced dairy products should be boosted by the government’s support for Draft Law No. 6068-d on countering unfair trade practices by retail chains and the implementation of protective measures against the significantly increasing imports of dairy products. We need to combat the gray import of dairy products into Ukraine. Food for humanitarian aid packages and other government purposes should be purchased exclusively from domestic producers,” the ABM emphasized.
Foreign trade in dairy products in January 2026 amounted to $40.5 million, which is 35% less than in December 2025 ($61.8 million) and 26% less than in November 2025 ($54.7 million), according to the Ukrainian Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).
The industry association noted that exports in January 2026 amounted to $18.0 million, which is 27% less than in December 2025 ($24.6 million) and 24.3% less than in November 2025 ($23.8 million).
Imports in January this year amounted to $22.4 million, which is 40% less than in December 2025 ($37.2 million) and 27.5% less than in November 2025 ($30.9 million).
The export-import balance in January 2026 was negative (-$4.4 million), as it was in December 2025 (-$12.5 million) and November 2025 (-$7.0 million). The ratio of exports to imports in January was 0.80 (in December – 0.66; in November – 0.77).
The association’s analysts noted that in the value structure of exports in January 2026, 32% was accounted for by milk and condensed cream, 27% by cheese, and 21% by butter and other fats. Compared to January 2025, the share of all types of cheese increased from 22% to 27% amid a decline in the share of butter and other dairy fats from 30% to 21%.
There were no significant changes in the value structure of imports during the reporting period compared to January 2025: the share of all types of cheese decreased slightly from 79.8% to 78.4% (-1.4 percentage points), while the share of whey increased significantly, from 1.8% to 6.3%, according to the SMU.
The volume of foreign trade in dairy products in the first half of January 2026 amounted to $13.6 million, which is 59% less than in the first half of December 2025, according to the Ukrainian Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).
The industry association noted that dairy product exports in January 2026 decreased by 51% compared to December and by 43% compared to November 2025. At the same time, imports were 65.5% lower than in December and 49.5% lower than in November 2025. The trade balance for dairy products for the reporting period was negative $1.2 million.
According to industry analysts, there was a 56% decline in exports of milk and condensed cream, a 65% decline in exports of butter and milk fats, and a 46% decline in exports of all types of cheese. At the same time, exports of whey increased by 12%.
In the structure of imports in January of this year, there was a decrease in fermented milk products by 19% and all types of cheese by 65%. Imports of whey increased by 134%, the SMPU summarized.
In December 2025, Ukraine exported 10.38 thousand tons of dairy products worth $25.92 million, which is 0.3% and 6% less than in November, but 44% and 51% more than in December 2025, according to the Association of Milk Producers (AMP).
The industry association noted that in January-December 2025, Ukraine exported 131.91 thousand tons (+12% compared to the same period in 2024) of dairy products worth $401.36 million (+35%).
Analysts specified that the main export categories in December were milk and condensed cream (36%), cheese (22%), and butter (21%).
According to their information, in December 2025, Ukraine increased the volume of exports of milk and cream, not condensed, to 2.58 thousand tons (+13%), milk and cream, condensed, to 3.63 thousand tons (+5%), fermented milk products to 575 tons (+14%), butter to 836 tons (+13%), and ice cream to 336 tons (+6%) compared to November. The volume of whey exports decreased to 1 thousand tons (-22%) and cheese to 1.24 thousand tons (-3%) compared to the previous month.
Compared to December 2024, Ukraine increased its physical exports of milk and cream, condensed (+90%), fermented milk products (+50%), butter (+91%), and cheese (+45%) to foreign markets the most.
At the same time, compared to November 2025, cash proceeds for shipped milk and cream, non-condensed, increased to $2.09 million (+11%), milk and cream, condensed, to $9.23 million (+5%), fermented milk products to $984 thousand (+32%), ice cream to $1.29 million (+10%), butter to $5.41 million (+7%), but decreased for shipped whey to $1.11 million (-23%) and cheese to $5.8 million (-5%).
Compared to December 2024, the largest increase in cash proceeds was for exported milk and cream, condensed (+68%), fermented milk products (+78%), and butter (+60%). Cash proceeds for exported whey decreased (-5%).
“The unpredictable increase in milk production during 2025 led to an accumulation of exchange goods in European warehouses and a collapse in world prices for butter and other dairy products. Activity in the dairy market traditionally slows down at the end of the year, during the New Year holidays, which naturally led to a reduction in exports from Ukraine. In early January, exports of dairy products from Ukraine to Europe effectively stopped due to changes in EU requirements for licensing export volumes within quotas. The procedure, developed at the end of December, was not actually provided to anyone, which meant that Ukrainian processing companies, together with their partners who import Ukrainian dairy products, were unable to submit applications for export permits in a timely manner,” explained AVM analyst Georgiy Kukhiashvili.
The industry association drew attention to the increase in imports of dairy products from the EU to Ukraine, in particular cheese and butter, which are supplied to domestic retail chains from Poland. In December 2025, the country imported 6.52 thousand tons of dairy products worth $37.28 million. Compared to November 2025, natural import volumes increased by 17%, and compared to December 2024, they decreased by 14%.
In January-December 2025, Ukraine imported 64.69 thousand tons (+7%) of dairy products worth $337.93 million (+16%). Cheese accounted for the largest share of total imports during this period (65%).
“The foreign trade balance in December was negative and amounted to -$11.36 million, probably due to the influx of cheap condensed milk and cheese into Ukraine and a decrease in the volume of dairy product exports,” the AVM summarized.
Ukraine continues to be one of the largest suppliers of cheese to the Uzbekistan market, ranking among the top 10 exporters of this product. Dairy products traditionally occupy an important place in the diet of the Uzbekistan population, where fermented drinks such as kefir, ayran, and bifidok are particularly popular. At the same time, the most dynamically growing segments are ready-made baby food, drinkable yogurts, and butter, which indicates a gradual expansion of consumer preferences and demand for products with higher added value.
As Olga Gvozdeva, advisor to the director of the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development, noted, demographic and infrastructure factors are important for market development. “The average age of the population is 29, and the level of urbanization is only 51%, which creates certain logistical difficulties, especially for products that require a cold chain,” she said.
The growing demand for dairy products in a country that is home to 38% of Central Asia’s population makes Uzbekistan the largest potential consumer market for dairy products in the region.
There is a free trade agreement between Ukraine and Uzbekistan, which provides for a zero customs duty rate for products with a Ukrainian CT-1 certificate. Currently, 16 Ukrainian companies have official permission to export dairy products to Uzbekistan. Among them are:
Agroprosperis LLC
Molochny Aliance LLC
Yuriya-Plus LLC
Lvivmolprodukt LLC
Kyivmolprodukt LLC
Rogan Dairy Factory LLC
Prostokvashino LLC
Podillya LLC
Zarechnoye LLC
Starokostiantynivsky Milk Plant LLC
Shostka LLC
Volynmoloko LLC
Ivano-Frankivsk Milk Plant LLC
Bukovina LLC
Milko Dnipro LLC
Ternopil Milk Plant LLC
Uzbekistan is actively updating its regulatory system. In particular, in 2023, outdated technical regulations were abolished, and new sanitary standards and product safety assessment mechanisms were introduced. Particular attention is paid to compliance with Halal standards, in particular, the national certification system has been in operation since May 2023. The “Foydalilik belgysi” (Usefulness Mark) label was also introduced, which classifies products according to their nutritional value.
Thus, Ukraine has significant prospects for increasing exports of dairy products to Uzbekistan, which, given the growing demand and regulatory changes, is a lucrative opportunity for Ukrainian producers.
