Ukrproduct Group, a major Ukrainian producer of packaged butter and processed cheese, reported a net loss of GBP0.19 million for the first half of 2025, compared to a net profit of GBP0.90 million for the same period in 2024.
“Financial expenses in the first half of 2025 increased by 35.6% to GBP0.5 million…, mainly due to the recognition and capitalization of deferred interest and fees related to the EBRD loan (approximately GBP2.1 million), with interest now accruing on a higher principal balance. Net foreign exchange losses increased to GBP0.9 million (H1 2024: GBP0.2 million) due to the depreciation of the Ukrainian hryvnia,” the company explained in a report to the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
As reported, in December 2024, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) decided to exercise its right under the loan agreement and charged a commission of GBP2.0 million, which increased the company’s liabilities to the bank to GBP8.1 million.
The group’s gross profit for January-June increased by 2.8% to GBP3.53 million, while operating profit fell by 17.2% to GBP1.22 million and EBITDA by 18.3% to GBP1.5 million.
Ukrproduct Group’s revenue in hryvnia increased by 32.9% in the first half of the year, while in British pounds sterling, the increase was 21.6% to GBP20.23 million.
“Butter: Sales rose sharply to GBP 3.3 million (H1 2024 – GBP 1.3 million), mainly due to the expansion of exports of packaged butter. Domestic sales were deliberately reduced to avoid unprofitable deals, with sales in Ukraine limited to selected customers,” the company said.
According to the report, sales of processed cheese and cheese products increased by 4.7% to GBP11.2 million, spreads to GBP2.0 million from GBP1.7 million, mainly due to increased export volumes.
Sales of skimmed milk powder and skimmed milk products increased to GBP0.8 million from GBP0.5 million, reflecting strong demand in the EU at favorable prices. However, the possible abolition of duty-free and quota-free access under the EU’s Autonomous Trade Measures (and any revision of quotas) could significantly reduce future export volumes, Ukrproduct added.
According to the report, the sandwich spreads category remained stable, with sales of GBP0.6 million, while sales of kvass and beverages declined slightly to GBP1.0 million from GBP1.1 million. This reflects weaker demand for kvass due to the unusually cool summer, while kombucha sales are accelerating, benefiting from innovation and lifestyle-oriented positioning.
In addition, in the first half of 2025, Ukrproduct Group sold sunflower seeds worth GBP0.2 million, eight times more than last year, which allowed it to maintain profits in this segment despite lower market prices.
As noted, operating expenses increased by 13.5% to GBP 2.3 million, mainly due to higher payroll costs (inflation and labor shortages): labor turnover remains high, as younger workers move abroad or are unavailable due to mobilization and family dispersion, incentives must be provided to retain staff, increase training, and selective hiring. “Changes that allow men aged 18 to 22 to move abroad may further affect the availability of labor,” the report said.
As of June 30, 2025, Ukrproduct Group’s net assets had fallen to GBP1.6 million from GBP4.9 million a year ago, and cash balances to GBP0.1 million from GBP0.5 million. The company continues to violate a number of provisions of the loan agreement with the EBRD, including non-repayment of tranches A and B and late payment of interest since March 1, 2022, and discussions with the EBRD on the potential restructuring of the loan and accrued interest, which began in 2021, are ongoing. At present, the EBRD has not exercised its right to accelerate the repayment of the loan.
In assessing its prospects for the end of 2025, Ukrproduct assumes that the business environment will remain unstable due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and financial pressure. The company plans to optimize its product range towards value-added products, diversify its export destinations, and align production more closely with confirmed orders, as well as support the further development of recently launched products (varieties of kvass, kombucha, sandwich spreads).
“Liquidity remains limited and depends on disciplined working capital management and continued creditor tolerance while negotiations with the EBRD on restructuring are ongoing. We are limiting capital expenditure to essential safety and maintenance measures, seeking to make advance payments where possible, rationalising inventories and focusing on the most profitable product range to preserve cash,” said the company, whose capital investments in the first half of this year amounted to GBP0.49 million, compared to GBP0.50 million in the first half of last year.
As reported, Ukrproduct Group posted a net loss of GBP2.04 million for 2024, compared to a net profit of GBP0.39 million for 2023. Revenue in hryvnia increased by 13%, while in British pounds sterling the increase was only 0.2% to GBP37.08 million.
Ukrproduct Group Ltd, one of Ukraine’s leading dairy producers, will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders on August 7, 2025. This was announced in an official notice published on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) on May 30, 2025.
The agenda includes the following items:
approval of the annual financial statements for the 2024 financial year;
election or re-election of members of the board of directors;
approval of the auditor for the next period;
possible amendments to the articles of association and authorizations to issue new shares;
issues related to corporate governance and strategic development.
The board of directors recommended that shareholders approve the annual report and confirm the current management structure. Plans for 2025–2026 are also expected to be discussed in light of volatile consumer demand and logistics adjustments.
Ukrproduct Group Ltd was founded in 2004, and since 2005, the company’s shares have been listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker UKR.L.
The group unites several milk processing enterprises in Ukraine. Its headquarters are located in Kyiv, and its production assets are in the Zhytomyr region. In recent years, the company has focused on improving operational efficiency, expanding export channels, and modernizing production facilities.
Ukrproduct Group, a major Ukrainian producer of packaged oil and processed cheese, reported a net loss of GBP 2.04 million for 2024, compared with a net profit of GBP 0.39 million in 2023.
“Financial expenses in 2024 increased by 253% compared to the previous year to GBP 2.8 million, which was caused by significant accruals of commission for deferral of a loan from the EBRD, retrospectively applied for the period from October 2016 to December 2024,” the company explained in its annual report on the London Stock Exchange.
According to the report, in December 2024, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) decided to exercise its right under the loan agreement and charged a commission of GBP 2.0 million, which increased the company’s liabilities to the bank to GBP 8.1 million.
The group’s gross profit for the past year increased by 3.9% to GBP 7.12 million, while operating profit fell by 36.6% to GBP 1.08 million and EBITDA by 29% to GBP 1.7 million.
“Ukrproduct Group, a major Ukrainian producer of packaged butter and processed cheese, increased production of kvass and beverages by 42.5% in local currency in the first half of 2024 and increased their output by 13.1% compared to the first half of 2023, the company said in a report to the London Stock Exchange on Monday.
Sales of kvass and other beverages in the first half of 2024 amounted to GBP1.1 million (…). This growth was driven by a combination of price increases, new product launches, distribution expansion, and favorable weather conditions for sales, the agricultural holding said.
The volume of oil sales in the first half of 2024 amounted to GBP1.8 million, which is 25.6% more in monetary terms and 9.5% more in production compared to the same period last year. Sales were made through the key sales channels – retailers, large distributors and exports.
In the Processed Cheese and Processed Cheese Products segment, sales amounted to GBP10.7 million, which represents a decrease in revenue of 2.2% in local currency and a decrease in volume of 10.8% compared to 1H2023.
“This was mainly due to financial difficulties for some clients and a shift in focus towards profitability,” Ukrproduct Group explained.
Spread sales for the reporting period decreased to GBP1.7 million, down 14.1% in local currency and 13.1% in volume compared to the same period last year. The agricultural holding explained the decline by increased competition in the market.
Skimmed milk powder sales for the six months of 2024 also decreased by 14.2% in local currency to GBP0.5 million and by 14.7% in volume compared to the same period last year, which is a continuation of the downward trend of the previous season.
Due to low prices for skimmed milk powder, the group minimized the production of this product, deciding instead to use semi-finished milk protein as an ingredient in the production of processed cheese, the agricultural holding said.
“Business development in the second half of 2024 remains extremely uncertain due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Group continues to make every effort to implement its strategy in a very challenging business environment, not least by ensuring a stable electricity supply and responding to new challenges. In the next six months, the Group expects to focus on maintaining its existing production capacity, supporting sales volumes and continuously improving operational efficiency,” Ukrproduct Group summarized.
“Ukrproduct Group is a major Ukrainian producer of packaged butter, processed cheese and kvass. The company produces dairy products under the Nash Molochnyk, Nash Syrok, Molendam, and Vershkova Dolina brands and kvass under the Arsenievsky brand.
Ukrproduct Group operates two plants in Zhytomyr (one specializing in processed cheese and the other producing kvass) and two enterprises in Khmelnytsky region: a dairy plant in Starokonstantinov producing packaged butter, spreads, cheese and milk powder, and a dairy plant in Letychiv.
The group’s production capacity allows it to produce up to 70 thousand tons of dairy products per year.
