The EU is buying up Ukrainian ice cream at a record pace: sales have risen to nearly 34 million euros
24 June 11:42
Ukrainian ice cream continues to gain ground in the European market. According to 2025 figures, European Union countries imported a record 9,9 thousand metric tons of ice cream from Ukraine, totaling 33.9 million euros. This is the highest figure on record, reports "Komersant Ukrainian", citing an analysis by “Slovo i Dilo.”
In fact, over the decade since the free trade zone with the EU came into effect, Ukrainian ice cream producers have made a real breakthrough. While in 2016 European countries purchased only 100 metric tons of Ukrainian ice cream worth about 100 thousand euros, by 2025, export volumes had increased nearly 100-fold in monetary terms and 99-fold in physical terms.
The most rapid growth occurred in the very first year after the full-scale launch of the Free Trade Area in 2017. At that time, the volume of shipments rose to 500 metric tons, and their value exceeded 1 million euros.
Despite the full-scale war, exports continued to grow. While EU countries purchased 3,000 metric tons of Ukrainian ice cream in 2022, this figure rose to 5,500 metric tons in 2023 and to 7,500 metric tons in 2024.
Ukrainian producers were able to expand their presence in the European market even during a full-scale war. Despite logistical challenges, labor shortages, and rising production costs, ice cream exports continued to grow and reached an all-time high in 2025.
The story of Ukrainian ice cream stands out particularly against the backdrop of the overall foreign trade picture. According to customs statistics, Ukraine imported $40.5 billion worth of goods from January through May 2026, while exports totaled only $17.5 billion.
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Experts note that further export growth will depend on the ability of Ukrainian ice cream manufacturers to scale up production, maintain European quality standards, and expand their presence in EU retail chains.
As reported by
