European and Ukrainian cheese cannot be substituted in Russia
In many Russian shops the range of cheeses is reduced to several types of Belarusian and Russian products, because of ban on import of European and Ukrainian cheeses.
The situation is very favourable for Russian and Belarusian cheese makers. At the same time the consumers suffer, which are devoid of alternative and not always have possibilities to buy the product of high quality, but at high prices.
Still recently the European cheeses filtered into Russian market somehow.
Supply of cheese from New Zealand is not big, because of problems with deliveries from Fonterra. Promised products from Latin America are not brought yet, but even when they enter the market they should be liked by Russians. After all, the products are unknown, and their prices will be high.
Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare “added fuel to the fire”. It banned import of Ukrainian cheese products from October 14.
In conditions of limited supply the prices for cheese are growing in Russia. Prices for traditional cheeses of domestic and Belarusian origin are already at RUB 240-265/kg in large wholesale. Cheeses of well-known brands cost RUB 265-300/kg.
Supply of European cheeses was essentially reduced in October, but some traders have the products for wholesale sales. They are not cheap: Gouda/Edam is offered at RUB 280-285/kg, Tilsiter – at RUB 290-300/kg, Maasdam – RUB 370-380/kg.
For now there are no reasons which can prevent further growth of prices on Russian cheese market. Only absolutely lowered demand may probably stop the tendency. In that case vendors of cheese products will help. After the next restrictions for Ukrainian products the production of them will sharply increase in Russia.