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.
The dairy industry, which is one of the key sectors of Ukraine’s agricultural sector, has retained its production base and is gradually recovering despite the full-scale war, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture Taras Vysotsky said at the XVII All-Ukrainian Conference “Dairy Business-2025” in Kyiv on Thursday.
The deputy minister noted that in January-October 2025, Ukraine produced almost 5.9 million tons of milk.
“An important trend is the growing role of agricultural enterprises: they already account for 45% of production, and their production volumes have increased by 7.6%, despite the overall reduction in livestock numbers. Quality is also improving: more than 55% of milk sent for processing meets the European ‘extra’ standard,” he wrote on Facebook.
Vysotsky emphasized that the industry is also actively working in foreign markets. In the first 10 months of 2025, exports of dairy products grew by almost 9%. Sixty-four Ukrainian companies have permission to export dairy products to the EU, 40 of which are milk processing plants.
“Despite the challenges, we are maintaining the stability of current indicators and forming a resource for further growth – this is our realistic and strategic focus. The next step is investment, modernization, and a clear move towards integration with the European market,” the deputy minister concluded.
Total foreign trade in dairy products in November amounted to $54.7 million, up 3.3% from October ($53 million), according to the Ukrainian Dairy Industry Association (UDIA).
The industry association noted that export volumes in November continued to grow for the second month in a row and amounted to $23.84 million, adding 12.7% compared to October ($21.16 million) and 15.4% compared to September ($20.7 million).
At the same time, the value structure of exports in November 2025 was as follows: condensed milk and cream – 37%, cheese – 25%, butter – 21%. The value structure of exports in November 2025 compared to November 2024 changed slightly: the share of milk and condensed cream increased (from 30% to 37%) against the backdrop of a decrease in the share of cheese (from 32% to 25%).
Imports in November amounted to $30.9 million, down 2.9% from October ($31.8 million) and 2.2% from September ($31.6 million). In November 2025 compared to November 2024, the value structure of imports did not change significantly, in particular, the share of all types of cheese remained at about 84%.
The export-import balance in November was negative (-$7.0 million), as it was in October (-$10.6 million) and September (-$10.9 million), the association noted.
The ratio of exports to imports was 0.77 in November, 0.67 in October, and 0.65 in September.
Imports of dairy products in November this year exceeded exports by 1.3 times, the SMU summarized.
In September 2025, most dairy products rose in price in Ukraine amid limited domestic demand, 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 costs an average of UAH 48.21/kg, which is UAH 2.75 (+6%) more than in the previous month, but UAH 8.89 (+23%) more than in the same period last year. This product in a plastic bottle costs UAH 65.42/kg, which is UAH 1.25 (+1.9%) more than in the previous month and UAH 12.50/kg (+24%) more than in the same period last year.
Kefir with a fat content of 2.5% in film costs an average of 56.74 UAH/kg, which is 97 kopecks (+2%) more than a month ago, but 9.53 UAH (+20%) more than last year. The cost of the product in a plastic bottle is currently 76.45 UAH/kg, which is 2.57 UAH (+3%) more than a month ago and 14.55 UAH (+25%) more than last year.
Sour cream with a fat content of 15% in cups costs an average of 187.22 UAH/kg, which is 0.93 UAH (+0.5%) more than last month, but 37.79 UAH/kg (+25%) more than last year.
The average price for drinking yogurt with a fat content of 1.6% to 2.8% in plastic bottles was 115.79 UAH/kg, which is 1.39 UAH (+1.2%) more than in the previous month, but 20.12 UAH (+21%) more than in the same period last year.
The average price of sour milk cheese with a fat content of 9% was UAH 293.44/kg, which is UAH 7.41 (+3%) more than in the previous month and UAH 64.38 (+28%) more than in the same period last year.
Domestic butter with a fat content of 72.5% to 73% costs an average of 586.64 UAH/kg, which is 7.58 UAH (+1.3%) more than in the previous month, but 123.36 UAH (+27%) more than last year.
Gouda cheese with a fat content of 45% from Ukrainian companies costs an average of 584.59 UAH/kg, which is 21.21 UAH (+4%) more than last month, but 95.38 UAH (+19%) more than last year.
“In Ukraine, in the second half of September, prices for most dairy products remain high, which may be due to food inflation. At the same time, domestic demand for dairy products is limited. There has been a decline in sales by retail chains and a decrease in demand for raw milk from milk processing enterprises,” explained Georgiy Kukhaleishvili, an analyst at the association.
He noted that imported cheeses, which are mainly imported into Ukraine from Poland, are more attractive in terms of price than products from domestic producers.
“With the suspension of milk exports to the EU, milk processing enterprises are working for stock, which, together with the decline in prices for exchange-traded goods on export markets, in particular butter, may put pressure on prices in the future. A certain revival of consumer demand for fresh dairy products is likely in winter,” the UDA concluded.
