Fresh dairy product sales continue to fall in Ukraine
Demand for fresh milk products does not grow in Ukraine. Ukrainians even began to buy less of processed milk. It confirms once again a stable decrease of purchasing power in the country.
Nevertheless this factor does not hamper continuing increase of prices by producers, despite that not all of them increased milk prices.
In the end of November leading manufacturers offered in trade: 2.5% milk in cheap pouches at UAH 8.0-8.8/l, 2.5% kefir – at UAH 9.5-10.3/l, sour cream (15%) – at UAH 20-22/kg, curd (9%) – at UAH 45-53/kg.
Generally, now fresh milk products are about UAH 1/kg more expensive, than a year ago, and that in conditions of lower milk price in Ukraine.
Unfortunately, prices for fresh milk products will grow in Ukraine further, but many operators will have to reduce production volumes.
In particular, even production of processed milk declined by 6% to 41 000 tonnes in October. Production of fermented milk products decreased 3% to 34500 tonnes. Plants supplied 4% less of curd on the market (6100 tonnes).
Almost all leading players reduced production of fermented milk products. Number of operators even slightly increased a production of processed milk. At the same time, small plants continue to lose ground.
Producers of fresh milk products cannot count on increase of sales in near future, therefore production will be kept at present level at the best, and that not for long.