Imported Cheeses Now Claim 45% of Ukraine's Market, Prompting Calls for Action
The Ukrainian Union of Dairy Enterprises has raised an alarm over a sharp rise in cheese imports and is urging changes to the 'National Cashback' program to support domestic producers. The market share of imported cheeses in Ukraine grew from 38% to 45% in 2025, signaling a significant intensification of competition from foreign manufacturers. This trend highlights the pressures on local industries in a globalized food market.
Imports of rennet cheese into Ukraine increased by 13% last year, reaching 32.9 thousand tons. In the hard cheese segment, import growth was 14%. These figures are causing concern among Ukrainian producers, who are facing new market challenges.
Arsen Didur, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Union of Dairy Enterprises, noted: 'If, for political reasons, anti-subsidy investigations against EU producers, primarily Poland, have no prospects, then we should focus on activating state support for Ukrainian producers.'
He emphasized the need for changes in the financing of the 'National Cashback' program, which in 2026 will be lower than the previous year, amounting to 5.7 billion UAH.
Proposals from the Dairy Union
The Dairy Union proposes two main initiatives to bolster domestic producers:
- Increase the compensation for buyers of Ukrainian cheese from 10% to 20%.
- Reduce or cancel payouts for other dairy products that are not facing such aggressive import competition.
Experts believe these measures could help strengthen the position of Ukrainian manufacturers in the market.
The surge of imported cheese to a 45% market share underscores the challenges domestic producers face in a globally competitive environment. The initiatives proposed by the Dairy Union could become crucial steps for protecting and supporting Ukrainian producers, especially in light of decreasing state funding. The impact of these changes on the market will become apparent in the coming years, which may require further monitoring and adjustments to state policy in this sector.