Russian Cheese Exports Increase by 13%
Russian dairy producers continue to expand their presence in foreign markets. In the first ten months of 2025, the export volume of cheese and cottage cheese increased by 13% in value, reaching $139 million, according to Dairynews.today, citing data from Agroexport.
From January to October this year, approximately 27,000 tons of these products were exported from Russia. The main driver of growth was demand from CIS countries, which remain key consumers of Russian processed dairy products.
Geography of Exports
The top three importers are as follows:
• Kazakhstan: retains its status as the largest market, purchasing products worth $69 million (about 50% of the total export volume).
• Belarus: purchased over $24 million worth of products.
• Uzbekistan: showed significant growth, importing cheese and cottage cheese worth more than $17 million.
Kyrgyzstan ($7 million) and Azerbaijan ($4 million) also ranked among the significant partners.
A positive trend is also observed in other segments. By the end of the third quarter (September 2025), there was explosive growth in whey exports, which increased 2.3 times. Significant growth was also registered in the categories of ice cream (+37%), fermented dairy products (+23%), and the total volume of cheese and cottage cheese (+18% in physical terms).
Geography of Exports
The top three importers are as follows:
• Kazakhstan: retains its status as the largest market, purchasing products worth $69 million (about 50% of the total export volume).
• Belarus: purchased over $24 million worth of products.
• Uzbekistan: showed significant growth, importing cheese and cottage cheese worth more than $17 million.
Kyrgyzstan ($7 million) and Azerbaijan ($4 million) also ranked among the significant partners.
A positive trend is also observed in other segments. By the end of the third quarter (September 2025), there was explosive growth in whey exports, which increased 2.3 times. Significant growth was also registered in the categories of ice cream (+37%), fermented dairy products (+23%), and the total volume of cheese and cottage cheese (+18% in physical terms).
Key News of the Week
