Russian Cheese and Curd Exports Rise by 20% in the First Half of 2025
Source: DairyNews.today
Cheese and curd exports from the Russian Federation showed confident growth in the first half of 2025. Preliminary estimates indicate that the volume of foreign shipments reached 70 million USD, which is 20% higher than the figures for the same period last year. In physical terms, exports amounted to 14 thousand tons, reports Dairynews.today, citing data from "Agroexport."
The main driver of growth was young cheeses, whose exports increased by 33% to 33 million USD. The second largest category, processed cheeses, also showed positive dynamics, increasing sales by 16% year-on-year to 25 million USD.
Traditionally, the main buyers of Russian dairy products remain the countries of the post-Soviet space. Exports to Kazakhstan grew by 15%, and to Belarus by 39%. The top five importers also included Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.
Ilya Ilyushin, head of the Federal Center "Agroexport," noted: "The countries of the post-Soviet space are traditional markets for Russian cheeses, due to similar food preferences, logistical proximity, as well as high recognition and trust in Russian brands. At the same time, supplies to far abroad are expanding. Since the beginning of the year, more than 143 tons of cheese and curd have been delivered to Mongolia, 57 tons to China, 14 tons to the UAE, 7 tons to Serbia, and 5 tons to Turkey."
According to "Agroexport," by 2030, the potential of Russian cheese exports is estimated to exceed 180 million USD. Promising directions, in addition to the traditional markets of the near abroad, are the countries of East and Southeast Asia, as well as the states of the Middle East.
Maria Zhebit, Deputy General Director of the National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko), emphasized the active development of the cheese-making industry in Russia. Cheese and cheese product production increased from 800 thousand tons in 2020 to 1.036 million tons by the end of 2024. From January to May 2025, 416 thousand tons of cheese and cheese products were produced.
"Russia today ranks among the top ten largest cheese producers in the world. At the same time, the investment cycle in the industry is not yet complete - new capacities are being introduced, existing enterprises are being modernized, and the construction and commissioning of plants in the cheese segment are being completed. Since 2012, the total volume of investments in the category has exceeded 100 billion rubles, with about 80% of them accounted for the period 2018–2022. These investments have allowed not only to significantly expand capacities but also to bring a wide range of competitive products to the market, meeting international standards. This lays the foundation for further production growth and strengthening Russia's positions in the global market," said Maria Zhebit.
It is reported that the greatest export potential is held by semi-hard and hard cheeses of the mass segment, as well as cheeses for the HoReCa segment. Additional opportunities are opened by deep processing of cheese whey.
Traditionally, the main buyers of Russian dairy products remain the countries of the post-Soviet space. Exports to Kazakhstan grew by 15%, and to Belarus by 39%. The top five importers also included Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.
Ilya Ilyushin, head of the Federal Center "Agroexport," noted: "The countries of the post-Soviet space are traditional markets for Russian cheeses, due to similar food preferences, logistical proximity, as well as high recognition and trust in Russian brands. At the same time, supplies to far abroad are expanding. Since the beginning of the year, more than 143 tons of cheese and curd have been delivered to Mongolia, 57 tons to China, 14 tons to the UAE, 7 tons to Serbia, and 5 tons to Turkey."
According to "Agroexport," by 2030, the potential of Russian cheese exports is estimated to exceed 180 million USD. Promising directions, in addition to the traditional markets of the near abroad, are the countries of East and Southeast Asia, as well as the states of the Middle East.
Maria Zhebit, Deputy General Director of the National Union of Milk Producers (Soyuzmoloko), emphasized the active development of the cheese-making industry in Russia. Cheese and cheese product production increased from 800 thousand tons in 2020 to 1.036 million tons by the end of 2024. From January to May 2025, 416 thousand tons of cheese and cheese products were produced.
"Russia today ranks among the top ten largest cheese producers in the world. At the same time, the investment cycle in the industry is not yet complete - new capacities are being introduced, existing enterprises are being modernized, and the construction and commissioning of plants in the cheese segment are being completed. Since 2012, the total volume of investments in the category has exceeded 100 billion rubles, with about 80% of them accounted for the period 2018–2022. These investments have allowed not only to significantly expand capacities but also to bring a wide range of competitive products to the market, meeting international standards. This lays the foundation for further production growth and strengthening Russia's positions in the global market," said Maria Zhebit.
It is reported that the greatest export potential is held by semi-hard and hard cheeses of the mass segment, as well as cheeses for the HoReCa segment. Additional opportunities are opened by deep processing of cheese whey.
Russian group "Vamin" recorded a 12% increase in cheese product exports in ruble terms in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. The main destinations for cheese supplies remained the CIS countries, including Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. At the same time, "Vamin" sees prospects for exporting dry dairy whey to the markets of Asia and Africa. For CIS countries, an additional priority will be the export of kalyatta - a semi-finished product for cheese production, reported "Agroexport."
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