Export of Ukrainian whey increased by 17.5%: Poland remains the main buyer

Growth of Ukrainian whey export

According to ХВИЛЯ: The export of Ukrainian whey increased by 17.5% in 2025, with Poland being the main buyer of this product. In the first ten months of 2025, Ukrainian producers received $13.4 million for whey export. At the same time, the physical volume of whey shipments decreased by 16.4%, amounting to 13.8 thousand tons.

Poland, with a share of 34.4%, is the largest importer of Ukrainian whey. China ranks second with a share of 27.9%, and Jordan is third with 8.1%. Overall, the export of dairy products from Ukraine from January to October 2025 increased by 9% and amounted to 111.11 thousand tons. In monetary terms, dairy product exports rose by 39% to nearly $348 million.

Main importers and trends

In 2024, Ukraine exported 18.7 thousand tons of whey, and the revenue from this export also amounted to $13.4 million. The main importers of whey in 2024 were:

• Poland (26.4%)
• China (21.5%)
• Philippines (9.2%)

In 2024, Ukrainian producers exported 117.73 thousand tons of dairy products worth $295 million.

On October 14, 2024, Ukraine and the European Union agreed to lift some tariffs on agri-exports, and the updated trade agreement came into effect on October 29, 2024. In the 2024/2025 marketing season, Poland became the largest importer of Ukrainian soybean oil and soybean meal.

The growth of whey export, despite the reduction in physical volumes, indicates changes in demand for Ukrainian products in international markets.

The main share of the export still falls on Poland, indicating the stability of trade relations between the countries. Given the agreement with the European Union, Ukrainian agricultural producers have the opportunity to increase their presence in European markets, which may positively affect the further development of Ukraine's agricultural sector.