The situation in the cattle and beef market is stable: limited supply and high demand are supporting record trade volumes and high prices, despite geopolitical uncertainty and risks, reports Georghii Kukhaleishvili, an analyst at the Association of Milk Producers of Ukraine.
According to preliminary data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine (SSSU), in June 2025, Ukraine exported approximately 1.22 thousand tonnes of live cattle, which is 13% less than in May 2025 and 6% less than in June 2024. The monetary revenue for exported animals was $5.49 million, an increase of 90% compared to May 2025 and 108% compared to June 2024. From January to June 2025, Ukraine exported 9.72 thousand tonnes of live cattle (+92%) totaling $21.45 million (+138%).
In June 2025, Ukrainian exporters supplied 1 tonne of fresh or chilled beef to foreign markets, which is 98% less than in May of the current year and 38% less than in June 2024. Export revenue for the supplied goods was $152 thousand, an increase of 11% compared to May 2025 and almost 19 times more than in June 2024. From January to June 2025, Ukraine shipped 66 tonnes of chilled beef (-93%) to foreign markets, totaling $422 thousand (-92%).
Natural export volumes of frozen beef from Ukraine in June 2025 amounted to 1.61 thousand tonnes, which is 16% less than in May of the current year, but 82% more than in June 2024. The monetary revenue for the supplied goods was almost $14.66 million, an increase of 88% compared to May 2025 and 325% compared to June 2024. From January to June 2025, Ukraine exported 9.58 thousand tonnes of frozen beef (+26%) totaling $37.58 million (+18%).
Georghii Kukhaleishvili notes that the situation in the cattle and beef market is stable. According to the European Commission, limited supply and consistently high demand contribute to record trade volumes. In the EU, prices remain at historically high levels but have stabilized over the last month. High prices are driven by the limited supply of cattle for slaughter and sustained demand in both domestic and export markets. Brazil and Australia remain leaders in beef export volumes. China and the US remain the largest importers. There is high demand for beef from South Korea, Japan, and Mexico, which partially offset the cancellation of American product purchases by China. Global beef trade remains active, however, geopolitical instability and uncertainty regarding tariffs in the US are causing global concern.
In June 2025, Ukraine imported 245 tonnes of live cattle. Import volumes of chilled beef increased to 14.2 tonnes (+129%), and frozen beef increased to 148.7 tonnes (+46%) compared to May 2025. Chilled beef import volumes increased by 82%, and frozen beef increased by 6% compared to June 2024. From January to June 2025, Ukraine reduced live cattle imports to 252 tonnes (-2%), but increased chilled beef imports to 70 tonnes (+17%), and reduced frozen beef imports to 818 tonnes (-35%) compared to the same period last year.
The foreign trade balance in June 2025 was positive and amounted to $16.87 million.
Press Service of the Association of Milk Producers
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