Autumn pressure on Ukrainian cheese: imports from Europe are growing, production is declining
29 September 2025 15:52
Analysts of the specialized resource Infagro predict an increase in cheese imports to Ukraine in the fall, while domestic production will fall. Infagro writes about this, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Despite the fact that in September, Ukrainian producers managed to maintain sales volumes even with rising prices, imports from Europe are expected to increase in October. Local cheeses are getting cheaper, making them attractive to retailers and small importers.
Why this is happening
European producers offer much lower prices, making it harder for Ukrainian cheese makers to compete. Infagro notes that distributors are increasingly choosing imported products because they allow them to make more profit after packaging and resale.
Against this backdrop, only producers of cheese products and processed cheese remain active, with demand for them growing both domestically and in export markets.
Implications for the market
- Pressure on Ukrainian producers: more expensive products are losing ground in retail chains.
- Changing consumer preferences: Ukrainians are increasingly buying European cheeses because of their lower price.
- Segmental transformation: production of cheese products and processed cheese comes to the fore.
The Ukrainian dairy market has been under pressure from cheaper imports from the EU for several years. The situation became especially acute after the opening of the grain corridor for agricultural products, when the supply of European goods increased. Similar trends are observed in the meat sector, where Ukrainian producers are finding it increasingly difficult to compete with imports.
