Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

Why juice production is profitable investment: analysis of market trends and opportunities

17 March , 2025  

Today, consumers around the world, and in Ukraine in particular, are increasingly choosing natural products that are associated with a healthy lifestyle. Juices, as one of the key segments of the beverage market, not only meet this trend, but also demonstrate a steady increase in demand. For businessmen looking for profitable areas for investment, juice production offers attractive prospects: a relatively low entry threshold, quick payback, and significant potential for scaling. In this article, we will analyze global and Ukrainian market trends, provide key figures and facts, and explain why it is worth paying attention to this industry right now.

Global juice market: figures and trends

The global juice market remains one of the most dynamic segments in the beverage industry. According to the analytical company Statista, in 2024, its volume reached about $18.5 billion, maintaining a stable annual growth rate of 5-7%. Forecasts for 2025 indicate a further increase in the market to $20 billion, driven by growing demand for natural products and innovative approaches to production.

Key global trends:

  • Demand for naturalness: Consumers prefer juices without added sugar, preservatives and artificial flavors. According to Euromonitor International, in 2024 the share of organic juices increased by 10% compared to 2022, which confirms the strengthening of this trend.
  • Competition with other beverages: In some regions, juice consumption has stabilized due to the popularity of functional drinks and premium teas, but the premium juice segment continues to grow, offsetting the decline in the mass market.
  • Production leaders: Brazil maintains its position as the world’s leading juice exporter, shipping 2.8 million tons in 2024, mostly orange concentrate. EU countries, in particular Spain (1.3 million tons) and the Netherlands (1.0 million tons), are also increasing their shares due to the active development of fruit processing.

Large players such as Tropicana (PepsiCo), Minute Maid (Coca-Cola), and Innocent Drinks dominate the mass segment, while local brands with organic, cold-pressed, and functional juices are winning the premium market.

Ukrainian juice market: untapped potential

The Ukrainian juice market has unique features that make it attractive to investors. According to the Ukrainian Agribusiness Association, the average per capita consumption of juice is only 10 liters per year. For comparison, this figure reaches 30 liters in the EU and 50 liters in the US. This means that the Ukrainian market is far from being saturated and has a huge room for growth.

Key characteristics:

  • Dominance of local brands: More than 95% of juices on the shelves of Ukrainian stores are made by domestic producers. The trend of supporting local businesses, which intensified after 2014, continues to gain momentum in 2024, reflecting strong consumer loyalty to local brands.
  • Export potential: Ukraine is among the top 20 global juice exporters. In 2022, the country exported 127 thousand tons of juices, mainly apple concentrate, mainly to the EU and the US.
  • Recovery from the crisis: The 2020 pandemic reduced juice production by 14.8%, but in 2021 the industry began to recover, and in 2022 sales grew by 21% in monetary terms. Further growth is expected in 2024, especially among small and medium-sized producers.

Market leaders:

  • “Nash Juice: Remains one of the leading brands, offering affordable products for the mass consumer. The exact market share in 2024 may differ from 22.1% (2022 data), but the brand maintains a strong position.
  • Jaffa: Known for quality juices in glass containers, popular both in Ukraine and abroad.
  • Galicia: Continues to occupy the niche of organic direct-pressed juices, strengthening its position in the premium segment due to the demand for natural products.
  • Sandora: Until 2022, it was the leader, but temporarily stopped production due to the war, which opened up opportunities for competitors. In 2024, the company is actively working to regain its market position, although its share is likely to have decreased due to competition.
  • New players: Brands such as Ecosphere are showing significant growth (e.g., +155% in 2022) and continue to gain momentum in 2024, filling the gaps left by the big players.

Financial analysis of juice production: why is it profitable?

Juice production in Ukraine is not only a response to trends, but also an economically sound business. Here are the key arguments:

  • Affordable start: A small semi-automatic juice production line (with a capacity of 1,000 liters per day) requires investments of $50,000-80,000, including equipment and raw materials. For comparison, starting a dairy plant costs at least $200,000. Of course, we are talking about production facilities, if you already have a prepared site for production.
  • Fast payback: With a production volume of 30,000 liters per month, you can earn up to $0.5-1.5 per liter, depending on the type of raw materials and prices. The initial investment in the production facility itself can be repaid in a few months if you have already built sales channels. And under good conditions, the business can pay off in a few quarters. This is much faster than most other food businesses.
  • Raw material base: Ukraine is one of the largest apple producers in Europe (1.2 million tons in 2022), which provides low cost of raw materials for apple juice.
  • Export prospects: Apple concentrate is already competitive on the global market, and the demand for direct-pressed juices in the EU is growing by 6-8% annually.

It is worth clarifying that the payback period of several months primarily refers to the workshop itself, not the business as a whole. This figure takes into account only the costs of equipment and raw materials at maximum line utilization. However, a full-fledged business includes additional costs: salaries for accountants, sales managers, logisticians, and warehouse workers, as well as rent, taxes, and marketing. If you already have well-established sales and supply channels, the payback period may be closer to these terms. However, in real-world conditions, where there are no ideal scenarios, you should focus on a more realistic timeframe of about 6-12 months. That’s how long it usually takes for juice production to start generating stable profits, depending on external factors and the efficiency of your business model.

These simple calculations demonstrate that launching juice production is not only an opportunity to occupy a profitable niche in the market, but also to ensure a quick return on investment. Investing in modern equipment allows you to reduce production costs and increase profit margins, which is especially important in a highly competitive environment.

Minimum set of equipment for juice production

To organize a full-fledged production process, it is necessary to equip the workshop with a line that includes a number of specialized machines and devices. Using the equipment listed below, you can achieve a capacity of up to 30,000 liters per month, which is ideal for medium-sized businesses with the prospect of scaling up:

  • Juice presses
  • Ensure efficient extraction of liquids from fruits and berries, preserving the maximum amount of nutrients. We recommend choosing the STvega J H30 Cold Press Juicer – this model with a pressing force of 30 tons guarantees a high juice yield even from hard fruits, preserving all the nutrients thanks to cold pressing technology.

Industrial juicers

Designed for processing large volumes of raw materials, which makes them indispensable in large-scale production. Particularly noteworthy is the STvega J 1500 masticating juicer. Its high productivity and squeezing efficiency allow you to optimize the production process and ensure high quality of the final product.

  • Filters.
  • Filters purify juice from unwanted solid particles, improving its taste and organoleptic characteristics. We recommend paying attention to the STvega SH 1000 Shock Filter for juice purification – this model has a capacity of up to 1000 liters per hour and removes the smallest particles, ensuring crystal clear juice.
  • Pasteurizers
  • Pasteurizers ensure the preservation of the product’s beneficial properties and extend its shelf life by destroying microorganisms. It is worth considering the STvega Pasteurizer H1000 – this model has a 1000-liter tank and preserves all the beneficial properties of the product due to precise temperature control.
  • Automatic filling lines
  • Automatic filling lines guarantee accurate dosing and hermetic packaging, which is important for maintaining product freshness and safety. We offer you to familiarize yourself with the Bag-in-Box STvega Automatic BIB Filling Machine H250 – this model provides filling accuracy of ±0.5% and a productivity of up to 250 bags per hour, optimizing the packaging process for medium and large volumes.

The approximate cost of this line can be around $50-80 thousand, while it can generate $10-20 thousand in gross revenue per month after reaching a volume of 500-1000 liters of juice per day.

But you can start with much smaller investments. Some of the operations can be done manually with the help of human resources, and then you can use only the most necessary equipment, such as a juicer, filters, and pasteurizers. In this case, you can start with 5-10 thousand dollars and test your idea.

Where to buy juice production equipment?

When choosing a supplier of equipment, it is important to consider not only the quality of the equipment, but also the level of service support, warranty service, and technical support. STvega is one of the market leaders specializing in the sale of modern equipment for the food industry.

Why choose STvega:

Wide range of products: We offer equipment from China, Europe and Ukraine, which allows you to choose the best solution for any business.

Warranty and post-warranty service: The company’s specialists provide full support and technical assistance at all stages of operation.

Competitive prices: High quality at affordable investment terms makes the purchase as profitable as possible.

Individual approach: Consultations on the selection of equipment for your budget and needs.

By investing in a production line from STvega, you get not only modern equipment, but also a partner who will help you grow your business and quickly achieve your goals.

Conclusion.

Today, investors are looking for opportunities that combine stability and high income potential. One of the most promising ways is to invest in your own production – your business. This is not just a reliable investment, but also a chance to create something real: a product that will be in demand, generate profit and allow you to control every stage of development. This approach provides not only financial return, but also long-term value, because you are building a business that works for you and meets modern market trends.

If you want to know more or get advice on the selection of equipment, please contact our specialists. For example, our company STvega has good experience in supplying equipment for juice production. We will help you make an informed choice, calculate the cost and lay a solid foundation for a successful start of your business.

Juice production is a business with a clear model that fits perfectly into the current trends of healthy eating and support for local producers. The global market is showing steady growth, and Ukraine has all the conditions for rapid development: from cheap raw materials to export opportunities. By investing in this segment today, you can not only make a quick profit, but also gain a foothold in an industry that promises to remain relevant for decades. It’s time to act – the market is waiting for new players!

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