In the second half of October, the situation in the cheese market remained tense — demand is weak, warehouses are overflowing, and competition from cheap imports from the EU is intensifying. Domestic producers are in no hurry to cut production so as not to lose raw materials, so finished product stocks continue to grow.

Companies with active marketing are trying to maintain sales through promotions and discounts, although basic cheese prices remain high. New increases are not expected — Ukrainian product is already more expensive than European counterparts.

Imported cheeses enter the market at lower prices, forcing producers either to reduce costs or increase the share of promotional products. According to forecasts, in November-December, the volume of semi-hard cheese imports may equal domestic production.

The situation in foreign markets has also become more complicated: due to falling European prices, importers are demanding concessions, and export contracts are being concluded on less favorable terms.