In summer, the demand for dairy products in Ukraine traditionally decreases due to the season of vegetables and fruits. In the conditions of war, the purchasing power of the population remains weak. Therefore, producers stimulate sales with sales promotions, although inventories of butter are growing, and competition with cheaper imports from the EU is intensifying.
Pasteurized milk with a fat content up to 2.6% in a pouch costs on average 48.33 UAH per kg, which is 36 kopecks (+0.7%) more compared to the previous month, but 2.68 UAH (+5.9%) more relative to last year's period. The cheapest milk in a pouch weighing 900 g is the milk of the brand "Adalis", which costs 41.99 UAH per kg, and the most expensive is the milk of the brand "Yagotynske" – 56.94 UAH per kg.
Pasteurized milk with a fat content up to 2.6% in a plastic bottle costs on average 66.31 UAH per kg, which is 15 kopecks (-0.2%) less compared to the previous month and 2.50 UAH (+4%) more relative to last year's period. The cheapest milk in 870-gram plastic bottles is the milk under the label "Metro", which costs 51.61 UAH per kg, and the most expensive is the milk "Molokiia", which costs 72.93 UAH per kg.
Kefir with a fat content of 2.5% in a pouch costs on average 58.75 UAH per kg, which is 41 kopecks (-0.7%) less than a month ago, but 3.21 UAH (+6%) more expensive than last year. The cheapest in 900-gram packages is the product of the brand "Kefir", which costs 49.99 UAH per kg. The highest price was recorded for kefir "Yagotynske" in a 900-gram pouch (63.32 UAH per kg).
Kefir with a fat content of 2.5% in a plastic bottle costs on average 79.43 UAH per kg, which is 43 kopecks (-0.5%) less than a month ago, but 2.68 UAH (+3%) more than last year. The cheapest kefir "Radymo" in 870-gram bottles costs 71.72 UAH per kg, and the most expensive product in identical packaging of the brand "Molokiia" costs 79.25 UAH per kg.
Sour cream with a fat content of 15% in cups costs on average 192.75 UAH per kg, which is 1.18 UAH (-0.6%) less compared to the previous month, but 1.62 UAH per kg (+1%) more relative to last year's period. The cheapest in 300-gram cups is the sour cream of the Novus label, which costs 148.30 UAH per kg, and the most expensive is the sour cream produced by Organic Milk – 236.54 UAH per kg.
Sour cream with a fat content of 15% in a pouch costs on average 155.57 UAH per kg, which is 3.17 UAH (+2.08%) more relative to the previous month and 9.49 UAH (+6%) more relative to last year's period. The cheapest in 350-gram packages is the sour cream "Kagma" (128.86 UAH per kg), and the most expensive is the sour cream of the brand "Prostonashe" (176.21 UAH per kg).
The average price for drinking yogurt with a fat content from 1.6% to 2.8% in plastic bottles was 123.55 UAH per kg, which is 1.63 UAH (+1.34%) more relative to the previous month and 7.11 UAH (+6%) more relative to last year's period. The cheapest yogurt in 290-300-gram plastic bottles is "Galychyna" (127.54 UAH per kg), and the most expensive is the yogurt "Dolce" (137.44 UAH per kg).
Spoonable yogurt with a fat content from 1.6% to 2.8% in cups costs on average 178.09 UAH per kg, which is 1.37 UAH (-0.8%) less relative to the previous month, but 16.47 UAH (+10%) more relative to last year's period. In 280-gram cups, the cheapest is the yogurt "Na Zdorov'ya. Bolgars'kyy" (131.23 UAH per kg), and the most expensive is the yogurt "Ferma. Po-turets'ky" (175.71 UAH per kg).
Cottage cheese with a fat content of 9% costs on average 302.78 UAH per kg, which is 6.52 UAH (+2.2%) more relative to the previous month and 22.98 UAH (+8%) more relative to last year's period. In 350-gram packages, the cheapest is the acidophilus cheese of the label "Auchan" (236.86 UAH per kg), and the most expensive is the cheese of the brand "Ferma" (325.71 UAH per kg).
Butter with a fat content from 72.5% to 73% of domestic production costs on average 599.87 UAH per kg, which is 13.81 UAH (+2.4%) more relative to the previous month and 15.05 UAH (+3%) more expensive than last year. Among Ukrainian brands in 180-gram packages, the cheapest was butter "Auchan" – 477.22 UAH per kg. The highest price tag in this package is on the butter "Ferma" – 763.89 UAH per kg.
Butter "Loostdorf" with a fat content of 72.5% in a 180-gram package costs 633.85 UAH per kg, which is 16.82 UAH (-3%) less relative to last year's period. Over the last month, the price of the product did not change. Imported butter costs on average 1170.00 UAH per kg, which is 95% more expensive than products of Ukrainian production.
Cheese Ukrainskyi with a fat content of 50% costs on average 632.72 UAH per kg. Compared to the previous month, the product became more expensive by 16.12 UAH (+2.6%). The cheese grew in price by 54.63 UAH (+9%) relative to last year's period. In a kilogram container, the cheapest is cheese Ukrainskyi hard by weight – 342.05 UAH per kg, and the most expensive is cheese of the brand "Zvenygora" – 636.18 UAH per kg.
Cheese Hollandskyi with a fat content of 45% costs on average 624.47 UAH per kg. Compared to the previous month, the product became cheaper by 5.32 UAH (-0.8%). Relative to last year, the cheese became more expensive by 33.83 UAH (+6%). In a kilogram container, the lowest price is for cheese Gollandskyi of the brand "Kremenets'ki molochni vyroby" – 422.90 UAH per kg, and the highest is for cheese of the brand "Komo. Staryi gollandets" – 745.80 UAH per kg.
The average price for Maasdam cheese with a fat content of 45% of domestic production was 753.84 UAH per kg, which is 39.42 UAH (-5%) less than a month ago. The cheese costs 44.19 UAH (+6%) more expensive than last year. Among domestic products, the cheapest in a kilogram container is hard Maasdam cheese by weight – 299.80 UAH per kg, and the most expensive is Maasdam of the brand "Novgorod-Siverskyi" sold at 619.00 UAH per kg. Imported Maasdam of the brand Kroon in a kilogram container costs on average 529.00 UAH per kg, which is 30% cheaper than domestic products.
Cheese Gouda with a fat content of 45% from Ukrainian companies costs on average 615.03 UAH per kg, which is 24.21 UAH (+4%) more relative to the previous month and 21.89 UAH (+4%) more expensive than last year. Among domestic products, the cheapest in a kilogram container is cheese Gouda of the brand "Metro" – 519.00 UAH per kg, and the most expensive price tag stands on Gouda of the brand Villa Milk – 699.00 UAH per kg.
Mozzarella with a fat content of 45% of Ukrainian production costs on average 574.24 UAH per kg. The cheese became more expensive by 27.98 UAH (+5.1%) compared to the previous month. Over the last year, Mozzarella became cheaper by 22.18 UAH (-4%). The cheapest in a kilogram container is Mozzarella of the brand "Zelena Ferma" – 349.00 UAH per kg, and the most expensive is Mozzarella of the brand "Yagotynske", which costs 733.32 UAH per kg. Imported Mozzarella of the brand ARO costs 669.00 UAH per kg, which is 17% more expensive than the products of Ukrainian producers.
Seasonally, the consumption of dairy products in Ukraine in the summer period decreases, because in this period consumers buy more vegetables and fruits, because their supply increases, and prices decrease. The lowest prices for vegetables and fruits are expected from July to September. An exception among dairy products is white and brined cheeses, which Ukrainians consume in larger volumes even in summer due to the popularity of salads with cheese and greens. The demand for dairy products remains lower during the war, because the purchasing power of the population has decreased and a large number of consumers of dairy products, including youth, women, children, and a part of forcibly displaced persons are temporarily abroad.
Producers stimulate sales with promotional offers and discounts on butter and sour cream. Inventories of unrealized butter continue to accumulate in warehouses, and deliveries to EU countries remain economically unprofitable. In such conditions, most producers place their bet on promotions and special offers to stimulate sales of packaged butter in retail trade. Consumers gained access to a wider assortment of promotional products at more attractive prices, which contributes to the growth of domestic consumption of butter. Market participants do not exclude a further cheapening of butter due to the growth of warehouse inventories. Also, the import of packaged butter from European countries is growing into Ukraine. Thanks to competitive prices, imported products are often sold cheaper than Ukrainian butter even during promotions.
Unwanted competition for domestic producers of dairy products is also created by the growth of cheese imports from Europe, where cheesemakers have a technological advantage. At the beginning of summer, the cost of cheese in Europe decreased, because of which the prime cost of importing block Gouda dropped. On this background, Ukrainian semi-hard cheeses with a higher selling price significantly lose to European counterparts in price competition. Poland remains the key supplier of cheese to Ukraine, which in May accounted for 55% of all supplies of rennet cheese. Significant volumes of cheese also came from Germany, the Netherlands, Latvia, and the Czech Republic.
To stabilize the situation, it is necessary to introduce predictable and fair rules of market operation, as well as to ensure stability in the entire food chain (farm – plant – retail network). The adoption of draft bill No. 6068-d, which provides that payment for perishable products, to which dairy goods belong, must be carried out no later than 30 days after delivery, and draft bill No. 12440 on antimonopoly control over retail will allow working out fairer conditions of cooperation. It is also worth increasing state procurement of domestic dairy products, including for the needs of the army, which should contribute to an increase in consumption and a reduction of the excess supply of finished products.
Press service of the Association of Milk Producers
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