Dairy product prices are rising against the backdrop of high production costs, while cheese manufacturers are losing their competitive edge due to an influx of imported products.
Pasteurized milk with up to 2.6% fat content in film pouches averages UAH 51.22/kg, down UAH 1.13 (-2.2%) compared to the previous month, but up UAH 3.61 (+7.6%) relative to the same period last year. The cheapest milk in 900 g film packaging is the Lukavytsia brand at UAH 43.78/kg, while the most expensive is the Yahotynske brand at UAH 63.22/kg.
Pasteurized milk with up to 2.6% fat content in plastic bottles averages UAH 71.88/kg, representing a UAH 1.71 (+2.4%) increase over the previous month and a UAH 5.36 (+8%) increase compared to last year. The lowest-priced option in 870 g plastic bottles is Yahotynske label milk at UAH 70.23/kg, while the highest price was recorded for Halychyna milk at UAH 79.82/kg.
Kefir with 2.5% fat content in film pouches averages UAH 63.83/kg, up UAH 2.49 (+4.1%) from a month ago and UAH 6.67 (+12%) higher than last year. In 900 g packs, the cheapest option is Auchan brand kefir at UAH 48.78/kg. The highest price was recorded for Halychyna kefir in 900 g film packaging at UAH 70.49/kg.
Kefir with 2.5% fat content in plastic bottles averages UAH 84.30/kg, down 78 kopiyoks (-0.9%) month-on-month, but UAH 5.38 (+7%) higher than last year. The cheapest kefir in 870 g bottles is Radymo at UAH 71.72/kg, while the highest price for identical packaging belongs to the Zaroh brand at UAH 87.70/kg.
Sour cream (smetana) with 15% fat content in plastic cups averages UAH 199.28/kg, up UAH 2.40 (+1.2%) compared to the previous month and UAH 9.29/kg (+5%) higher than the same period last year. The lowest-priced sour cream in 300 g cups is Auchan label at UAH 152.00/kg, while Ferma production commands the highest price at UAH 243.77/kg.
Sour cream (smetana) with 15% fat content in film pouches averages UAH 159.89/kg, down 33 kopiyoks (-0.21%) from the previous month, but UAH 9.44 (+6%) higher year-on-year. In 350 g packaging, Kahma sour cream is the lowest priced (UAH 132.86/kg), while Prostonashe brand is the most expensive (UAH 184.96/kg).
The average price for drinkable yogurt with 1.6% to 2.8% fat content in plastic bottles reached UAH 136.42/kg, up UAH 4.30 (+3.25%) month-on-month and UAH 21.93 (+19%) higher compared to last year. Among 250–300 g plastic bottles, Halychyna is the lowest priced (UAH 130.30/kg), while Chudo yogurt is the most expensive (UAH 191.92/kg).
Spoonable yogurt with 1.6% to 2.8% fat content in cups averages UAH 196.77/kg, up UAH 5.44 (+2.8%) relative to the previous month and UAH 34.02 (+21%) higher than last year. In 280 g cups, Selyanskyi yogurt is the cheapest (UAH 122.86/kg), while Ferma Turkish-style yogurt is the highest priced (UAH 190.00/kg).
Curd (cottage cheese / kyslomolochnyi syr) with 9% fat content averages UAH 311.33/kg, up UAH 9.02 (+3%) from the previous month and UAH 22.42 (+8%) higher year-on-year. In 350 g packages, Auchan label curd is the lowest priced (UAH 256.57/kg), while Ferma brand is the most expensive (UAH 325.71/kg).
Domestic butter with 72.5% to 73% fat content averages UAH 602.32/kg, down UAH 12.77 (-2.1%) from the previous month, but UAH 13.52 (+2%) higher than last year. Among domestic brands in 180 g packages, Auchan butter was the cheapest at UAH 482.78/kg, while Ferma butter carried the highest price tag in this packaging at UAH 787.22/kg.
Lustdorf butter (72.5% fat) in 180 g packages stands at UAH 688.89/kg, up UAH 13.89 (+2.1%) month-on-month and UAH 9.45 (+1%) higher year-on-year. Imported President brand butter averages UAH 1,170.00/kg, making it 94% more expensive than Ukrainian-produced butter.
Ukrainskyi cheese (50% fat) averages UAH 650.44/kg. Compared to the previous month, the item increased by UAH 28.38 (+4.6%), and rose by UAH 46.98 (+8%) relative to last year. In 1 kg bulk units, unbranded hard Ukrainskyi cheese is the cheapest at UAH 389.00/kg, while Zvenyhora brand cheese is the most expensive at UAH 656.33/kg.
Hollandske cheese (45% fat) averages UAH 640.46/kg, gaining UAH 7.60 (+1.2%) month-on-month and UAH 42.02 (+7%) year-on-year. In 1 kg bulk packaging, the lowest price belongs to Novgorod-Siverskyi brand Hollandske cheese at UAH 499.00/kg, while the highest belongs to Komo brand cheese at UAH 645.75/kg.
The average price for domestic Maasdam cheese (45% fat) reached UAH 744.24/kg, down UAH 76.79 (-9.4%) from a month ago, but UAH 3.67 (+0.5%) higher than last year. Among domestic products in 1 kg packaging, hard 45% Maasdam is the lowest priced at UAH 299.80/kg, while Novgorod-Siverskyi Maasdam sells at the highest price of UAH 659.00/kg. Imported Kroon brand Maasdam in 1 kg packaging averages UAH 509.00/kg, which is 32% cheaper than domestic production.
Gouda cheese (45% fat) from Ukrainian manufacturers averages UAH 620.70/kg, down UAH 23.63 (-4%) from the previous month, but UAH 57.44 (+10%) higher than last year. Among domestic products in 1 kg packaging, Kremenets Gouda is the cheapest at UAH 523.60/kg, while Pyriatyn Gouda carries the highest price tag at UAH 577.30/kg. Imported Hollander Gouda costs UAH 439.00/kg, which is 29% cheaper than Ukrainian-made cheese.
Mozzarella (45% fat) of Ukrainian origin averages UAH 625.55/kg, up UAH 39.30 (+6.7%) month-on-month and UAH 3.03 (+0.5%) higher year-on-year. In 1 kg packaging, Metro brand Mozzarella is the cheapest at UAH 389.00/kg, while Haisyn Mozzarella is the most expensive at UAH 539.00/kg. Imported ARO Mozzarella costs UAH 791.03/kg, 26% higher than Ukrainian products.
By late October, prices for most dairy products in Ukraine remained higher than a year ago. The largest price increases were observed in yogurts, film-packaged kefir, and select hard cheese varieties. At the same time, month-on-month price dynamics were mixed: milk, kefir, and sour cream in certain packaging formats, along with butter, saw price drops, while curd, yogurts, and most hard cheeses recorded price gains. The most notable monthly decrease occurred in Maasdam cheese, while the sharpest increases were recorded for Mozzarella and Ukrainskyi cheese.
An upward price trend for dairy products was anticipated for the autumn-winter period, with overall prices expected to rise by an average of 10%, and up to 20% for specific items. Cost pressures are driven by product storage expenses and the reliance on diesel generators during power outages. Due to shorter daylight hours and colder temperatures, agricultural enterprises and dairy processors are forced to rely more heavily on fuel-based generation, pushing up production costs.
However, the ability to pass these additional costs on to consumers is limited. Further retail price hikes will exacerbate inflationary pressures and dampen demand, creating added difficulties for milk producers and processors. Butter has proved to be an exception: inventories remain substantial, and no significant drop in production has occurred. Weakening foreign demand for butter, reduced foreign currency export earnings, and distribution challenges are compounding pressure on domestic prices, creating the conditions for further price declines in butter.
In the cheese market, the situation remains challenging for domestic manufacturers. Although market conditions were stable in October 2026, the expected major contraction in imports did not materialize. From January through September 2026, imports of hard and semi-hard cheeses grew by 36% compared to the same period last year. Heightened competition from imports cost Ukrainian producers the opportunity to sell an additional 500 metric tons of cheese on average each month.
Logistical complexities and regional power outages remain significant hurdles for the sector. At the same time, cheese makers are forced to raise prices due to escalating costs, which risks further curtailing demand and complicating competition against imported products.
Press service of the Association of Milk Producers
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