Ukraine’s cheese market ended 2025 without the traditional pre-holiday boost. Despite higher consumption in December, an increasing number of consumers opted for European cheeses, which proved more affordable, ProAgro Group reports.

The influx of low-priced imported cheese significantly reshaped market supply. Domestic producers managed to sustain sales mainly through aggressive promotional campaigns, which negatively affected profitability. Anticipating weaker demand after the holidays, companies began cutting production toward the end of the year, and overall output of hard and semi-hard cheeses declined year-on-year.

Market participants do not expect imports to decrease in 2026, as European cheese remains price-competitive. Even now, a substantial share of semi-hard cheese sales is accounted for by EU products, and this trend is likely to intensify. Even with discounts, Ukrainian cheeses are often more expensive than imported alternatives, forcing producers either to deepen price promotions or reduce output.

For some companies, exports remain an alternative to the domestic market, where pricing conditions are more favorable.

Meanwhile, the processed cheese segment remains relatively stable, with balanced demand and production, making it one of the few steady niches within Ukraine’s cheese market.

Earlier, it was reported that imports of low-priced EU cheese continue to displace domestic products on the Ukrainian market.

Source: INFAGRO