Ukrainian companies have sharply cut back on dairy exports: what are the reasons?
20 July 20:43
The reinstatement of tariff quotas between the EU and Ukraine and a significant drop in commodity prices have led to a sharp decline in dairy exports by Ukrainian companies. At the same time, cheese imports from Europe are on the rise. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing the Association of Milk Producers.
According to preliminary data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, 11.53 thousand metric tons of dairy products worth $35.06 million were exported in June 2026. Export volumes fell by 23%, and export revenue dropped by 31% compared to May 2026. Compared to June 2025, export volumes decreased by 7%, and revenue fell by 23%. In January–June 2026, Ukraine exported 63.78 thousand metric tons (-10%) of dairy products worth $180.87 million (-20%).
The main export categories were the following products:
- Ice cream – 28%;
- Milk and cream, condensed – 26%;
- Cheese – 14%;
- Butter – 10%;
- Casein – 8%.
In June 2026, Ukraine increased its export volumes of milk and non-condensed cream to 1.26 thousand metric tons (6%), fermented milk products to 656 metric tons (31%), and ice cream to 2.7 thousand metric tons (21%), but reduced exports of other dairy products, including butter to 649 metric tons (-78%) and cheese to 1.08 thousand metric tons (-16%) compared to May 2026. Compared to June 2025, Ukraine increased the physical volumes of exports of fermented milk products by 30%, ice cream by 20.4%, milk and non-condensed cream to 3.24 thousand metric tons (8%), and whey to 1.51 thousand metric tons (32%), but reduced shipments of other dairy products.
In June 2026, Ukraine increased export revenue from shipments of milk and non-condensed cream to $1.27 million (27%), fermented milk products to $964,000 (41%), milk whey to $2.32 million (46%), and ice cream to $9.91 million (23%), but saw a decline in revenue from other categories compared to May 2026. Revenue from exported butter saw the sharpest decline over the past month (-83%). Compared to June 2025, revenue from shipments of condensed milk and cream increased to $9.28 million (22%), while revenue from non-condensed milk and cream rose by 4%, fermented milk products by 18%, whey by 110%, and ice cream by 20%.
The reinstatement of tariff quotas between the EU and Ukraine and the significant drop in commodity prices, which has been ongoing since the second half of 2025, have led to a sharp decline in dairy exports by domestic companies. Low export demand for butter is putting downward pressure on milk prices, thereby worsening the financial situation of most producers. Butter and dry milk form the basis of Ukraine’s dairy exports, but unsold dairy products are piling up in warehouses. The market cannot keep up with absorbing the significant volumes of butter.
Watch us on YouTube: important topics – without censorship
