Imports or Ukrainian Producers: Prospects for the Cheese Market in 2025

In 2025, the Ukrainian cheese market was significantly influenced by imported products, which substantially changed the competitive landscape for local producers. Throughout the year, only a few enterprises managed to improve their results, while the majority were only able to maintain their previous production volumes.

This is reported by AgroReview

Growth of Imports and Its Consequences for Ukrainian Producers

Imports of hard and semi-hard cheeses from European Union countries continued to rise, leading to increased competition in the domestic market. Experts note that the growing volume of imported products limits opportunities for the development of Ukrainian producers.

“The import of hard and semi-hard cheeses from the EU has continued to grow, intensifying competition in the domestic market. It can be said that the impact of imports increasingly restricts the development opportunities for domestic producers,” analysts state.

Exports and Price Situation at the Beginning of the Year

Although cheese exports from Ukraine increased in 2025, this trend was uneven and primarily driven by one market operator. At the same time, the overall export volume does not compensate for the rise in imports. A positive trend was that imports of processed cheeses hardly increased, allowing Ukrainian companies to maintain strong positions in this segment.

At the beginning of the new year, the price situation in the domestic market remained stable: the list prices for traditional semi-hard cheeses did not undergo significant changes, although the share of promotional sales with large discounts is increasing. Export prices for semi-hard cheeses also remain virtually unchanged.

“Market participants do not expect a noticeable revival in exports in the near future, although fluctuations in the hryvnia exchange rate may affect the balance between imports and domestic production,” specialists summarize.