Pork has become a delicacy: prices in stores have crossed a new psychological threshold

According to hvylya.net: Prices for pork in Ukraine are breaking all records again. In June 2025, the average cost per kilogram exceeded 253 hryvnias - almost a third more than a year ago. Experts explain the price increase by the shortage of meat in the domestic market and a sharp decline in production.

According to the 'Pig Breeder of Ukraine' association, the procurement price for industrial pork has nearly doubled over the past year. If in the summer of 2024 the kilogram of live weight cost up to 60 hryvnias, now it is over 93. This sharp price increase is a result of systematic herd reduction, both in industrial and household farming.

Production has decreased by more than 11%, and large farms, which supply more than half of the entire market, reduced their volumes even more - by over 15%. The reasons are obvious: war, economic pressure, and weather conditions. In hot weather, animals gain weight more slowly, so producers either postpone slaughtering or reduce batches.

Meat shortage in the market

The market reacted immediately. The lack of supply led to price increases. Pork is just one example of a general trend: prices for chicken have also risen by almost 30% over the past year. Even chicken fillet now costs as much as some pork semi-finished products.

The meat shortage is a problem not only in the pork sector. The slaughter of cattle is also decreasing: only in April, the slaughter volume decreased by 16% compared to the previous year.

The current situation with pork indicates serious problems in Ukraine's meat processing industry, which may lead to further price increases for meat and meat products in the domestic market.