Ukraine Recorded a Negative Balance in Dairy Trade in September 2025
In September 2025, Ukraine’s foreign trade balance for dairy products remained negative, amounting to 6.62 million USD. This result was driven by an increase in imports alongside a decrease in exports compared to previous months.
This is reported by AgroReview
Export Dynamics: Key Categories and Trends
According to the Dairy Producers Association, in September, Ukraine exported 8.65 thousand tons of dairy products worth 25.13 million USD. Compared to August of this year, the natural volume of exports decreased by 15%, and on a year-on-year basis, it fell by 3%. At the same time, export revenue for the month dropped by 20%, but increased by 16% compared to September 2024.
“From January to September 2025, Ukraine exported 102.15 thousand tons (+10%) of dairy products worth $323.20 million (+44%),” the association clarified.
The main export categories in September remained butter (27% of exports), cheese (22%), condensed milk and cream (18%), as well as ice cream (10%). Meanwhile, only the export of milk and cream, not condensed, showed growth — reaching 2.07 thousand tons (+12% compared to August). All other items, including ice cream (1.58 thousand tons, -56.3%), condensed milk and cream (1.81 thousand tons, -20%), and butter (916 tons, -19%) showed significant declines.
In annual terms, exports of buttermilk (+31%), butter (+4%), cheese (+2%), and ice cream (+2%) increased. Revenue from exported milk and cream, not condensed, rose to 1.7 million USD (+11% compared to August), while buttermilk revenue increased to 936 thousand USD (+13%). However, the largest drop in revenue was recorded for ice cream (2.6 million USD, -56%), condensed milk and cream (4.56 million USD, -20%), and butter (6.85 million USD, -19%).
Compared to September 2024, revenue increased for buttermilk (+37%), whey (+17%), butter (+9%), cheese (+8%), and ice cream (+13%), but decreased for milk and cream, not condensed (-3%), and condensed milk and cream (-2%).
Dairy Product Imports: Geography and Structure
In September 2025, dairy product imports amounted to 6.3 thousand tons worth 31.75 million USD. This represents a 21% increase in volume and a 24.7% increase compared to September 2024. Over the first nine months of 2025, Ukraine imported 46.71 thousand tons of dairy products (+12%) worth 237.86 million USD (+19%).
The lion’s share of imports in September was accounted for by cheese (57%). Poland remains the leading supplier of cheese, accounting for 44.12% of total imports. Most other dairy products were also supplied from Poland, except for butter and casein, where Germany holds the lead (22.34% and 76.33% respectively).
Regarding exports, the main markets from January to September 2025 were Moldova (91% of milk and cream, not condensed; 85.4% of buttermilk; 26.7% of butter; 34.5% of cheese), Poland (20.8% of condensed milk and cream; 33.6% of whey; 48.9% of casein), and Germany (28.7% of ice cream).