Ukraine exports almost 40% more dairy

This is evident from figures published by the Ukrainian dairy industry and the Ministry of Agriculture. Deputy Minister of Agriculture Taras Vysotsky speaks of an export record, which was also accompanied by an export surplus. 

The sharp increase in dairy prices also helped to set an export record. In monetary terms, exports amounted to approximately €318 million. In addition to milk powder, this also involved butter and cheese. Expressed in volumes, this concerned successively 26.700, 14.100 and 9.000 tons of product.

Export surplus does not remain
Yet it is not all positive to report about Ukrainian dairy exports. In the first nine months of the year, exports were on the rise, but in the last three months the balance gradually turned further, until in December more dairy was imported than exported. The why is not entirely clear.

Ukrainian dairy farming and the dairy industry also suffered greatly from the war last year. Due to the war, the dairy farm lost almost 234.000 cows. Partly as a result, the dairy herd fell to 1,4 million cows, a low point in living memory. Even in 1946, there were still 4,3 million cows left in the country. 

The decline in livestock numbers mainly occurred on small-scale agricultural holdings and mainly in the east of the country. The large, industrial livestock farming industry largely survived. 

Meanwhile, dairy imports in Ukraine fell, especially cheese. This gave our own cheese industry an opportunity to recover somewhat from the blows it has suffered in recent years, including the export stop to Russia.