A Quarter Of Dairy Products Exported From Ukraine Is Ice Cream
In May this year, Ukraine exported 10.93 thousand tonnes of dairy products worth $32.89 million. Ice cream accounted for a quarter of the shipped products.
The physical export volumes increased by 2%, while export revenue rose by 5% compared to April 2026, according to the Union of Dairy Enterprises of Ukraine, citing data from the State Statistics Service.
It is noted that compared to May 2025, the physical export volume decreased by 27%, while revenue declined by 35%.
«In January–May 2026, Ukraine exported 52.25 thousand tonnes (-10%) of dairy products worth $145.81 million (-19%),» the experts stated.
The main export categories were:
- condensed milk and cream — 31%;
- ice cream — 26%;
- cheese — 18%;
- butter — 8%;
- casein — 6%;
- whey — 6%.
According to the Union, in May 2026 Ukraine increased physical exports of condensed milk and cream to 3.64 thousand tonnes (+18%), cheese to 1.24 thousand tonnes (+6%), and ice cream to 2.24 thousand tonnes (+21%), while reducing shipments of other dairy products.
Compared to May 2025, Ukraine increased exports of fermented dairy products to 597 tonnes (+19%) and ice cream (+0.3%). Exports of other dairy products declined compared to the same period last year.
In May 2026, Ukraine increased export revenues from shipments of condensed milk and cream to $10.2 million (+25%), cheese to $5.81 million (+7%), and ice cream to $8.39 million (+21%) compared to April 2026, while revenues from other categories declined. The sharpest drop over the last month was recorded for butter exports (-42%).
Compared to May 2025, export revenues increased for fermented dairy products to $854 thousand (+25%), whey to $1.97 million (+24%), and ice cream (+4%).
