Consumption of cheese in Ukraine is growing, but imports are dominating
16 December 22:37
Ukraine is experiencing an increase in cheese consumption, but the bulk of the growth is due to imported products. This was reported by the analytical agency Infagro, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Import dynamics
In November 2025, cheese imports increased by 10% compared to October.
In particular, imports of white cheeses increased by 4%, while processed cheeses decreased by 18%.
Experts expect more active import growth in December, repeating last year’s trend.
Reasons for the preference for imports
The price advantage of European cheeses: importers buy them cheaper than they are produced in Ukraine.
National producers are facing increased competition and are reducing production volumes.
Sales of semi-hard cheeses in the domestic market are expected to remain 17% lower in 2025 than in 2021.
Consumer habits
The average Ukrainian consumes about 2 kg of cheese per year, of which about a quarter is European-made.
Exports of Ukrainian semi-hard cheeses remain half of imports, although export prices are higher than import prices.
In November, exports of processed cheese products fell to the lowest level since the beginning of the year.
Implications for the market
Ukrainian producers are forced to reduce cheese production due to cheap imports and unrestored domestic demand to pre-war levels.
Analysts note that this situation makes it harder for domestic producers to compete and hinders the development of the industry.
