Ukraine’s foreign trade in dairy products deteriorated in January–September 2026, with exports and imports moving in opposite directions. A pick-up in exports in September does not yet signal a sustained positive trend, according to the Expert and Analytical Service of the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine (UDEU).
Key figures for the first nine months of 2026
- total foreign trade: $484 million (+2.4% year on year);
- dairy exports: $203.6 million (−16.2%);
- dairy imports: $280.3 million (+22.0%);
- trade balance: minus $76.7 million, compared with a surplus of $13.2 million in January–September 2025.
What is happening with exports?
Over the nine months, export volumes rose for fermented dairy products (+25.5%), whey (+5.2%), drinking milk and liquid cream (+3.8%) and cheese (+3.5%).
At the same time, exports of butter and milk fats fell roughly 1.8-fold, while dry and condensed milk exports declined by 1%.
September’s export growth did little to offset the 16.2% decline over nine months and does not yet indicate a lasting change in trend.
Imports keep growing
The sharpest increases in import volumes were in drinking milk and liquid cream (2.8-fold), butter and milk fats (roughly twofold) and whey (+33%). Cheese imports rose by 11%.
What does this mean for the industry?
Ukraine has moved from a dairy trade surplus in 2025 to a deficit in 2026.
Falling export revenue amid rising imports shows the need to focus on the competitiveness of Ukrainian dairy products, developing export markets and strengthening domestic producers’ position on the home market.
Source: Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine (UDEU Analytics)
