Ukraine’s Dairy Prices May Rise by 20–25%
Supply-chain disruption
Russian strikes on retail distribution centres and warehouses have disrupted established delivery arrangements, according to reports. Dairy processors previously supplied finished goods directly to large retail warehouses. Damage to those facilities has required companies and retailers to reorganise deliveries, while taking on additional transport and operating costs.
Supermarkets may seek to recover expenses related to direct deliveries, damaged infrastructure and altered logistics by passing them on to customers. Industry experts estimate that dairy products could become 20–25% more expensive in the coming months. The projected increase comes as production and processing costs, energy prices and pressure on household purchasing power remain high.
Prices across the dairy market
By the end of August 2026, pasteurised drinking milk with fat content of up to 2.6% averaged 50.55 UAH/kg, up 3.7% from the previous month. Adalis offered the lowest recorded price for packaged milk, at 41.99 UAH/kg, while Yagotynske was listed at 59.38 UAH/kg.
Prices for other products moved in different directions. Kefir with 2.5% fat averaged 59.44 UAH/kg, down 0.1% month on month but 7% above its level a year earlier. Drinking yoghurt rose 3.79% to 130.75 UAH/kg; Halychyna was priced at 135.99 UAH/kg and Chudo at 165.75 UAH/kg. Sour-milk cheese with 9% fat fell 1% to 292.17 UAH/kg, while 15% sour cream averaged 195.32 UAH/kg.
Butter and export markets
Domestically produced butter containing 72.5–73% fat averaged 591.45 UAH/kg. For a 180-gram package, Ashan had the lowest listed price among Ukrainian producers, at 477.22 UAH/kg, while Ferma cost 763.89 UAH/kg. Imported President butter was priced at about 1,120 UAH/kg, nearly 89% above Ukrainian alternatives.
Butter prices were not expected to fall at the start of autumn. Manufacturers held warehouse stocks, but the lower price limit had stabilised and producers were maintaining prices through promotional offers. Stronger demand and higher prices in export markets were cited as factors supporting the market. European raw-milk production had declined, with expectations of further increases in international butter prices during the autumn.
Demand and financing
The Milk Producers Association warned that higher retail prices could reduce dairy consumption. Lower demand would add pressure to processors and farmers, who are operating in difficult economic conditions. Consumers are also facing weaker purchasing power and continued emigration.
The Ukrainian dairy market may require long-term preferential financing from European partners. Such assistance could be used to repair infrastructure, modernise processing facilities, improve logistics and maintain production amid higher energy and operating costs. The source said that the sector faced the combination of rising prices, falling demand and reduced investment if support was not provided.
