The average purchase price of Extra Grade milk as of February 24 was 16.80 UAH/kg excluding VAT, which is 0.60 UAH less than a month ago. The price range for this grade in farms varies from 16.50 to 17.00 UAH/kg excluding VAT. The lower limit of the price range decreased by 1.00 UAH, and the upper limit decreased by 1.70 UAH over the last month.

Higher Grade costs on average 16.65 UAH/kg excluding VAT, which is 0.30 UAH less compared to the previous month. Prices for Higher Grade milk range from 16.00 to 16.80 UAH/kg excluding VAT. Based on the monitoring results of the second half of the previous month, the lower limit of the price range decreased by 1.20 UAH, and the upper limit decreased by 1.40 UAH.

The average price for Grade I milk was 16.00 UAH/kg excluding VAT and decreased by 0.40 UAH compared to the second half of last month. The minimum price in farms was 15.20 UAH/kg, which is 1.30 UAH less compared to the previous month. The maximum price was 16.20 UAH/kg and decreased by 0.90 UAH.

Accordingly, the weighted average price of the three grades was 16.60 UAH/kg excluding VAT, which is 0.48 UAH less than a month ago.

Georgy Kukhaleyshvili notes that purchase prices in Ukraine continued to move downward in the second half of February, given that the production of the milk powder/butter pair is currently unprofitable. Milk powder and butter are key dairy products that are exported. The decrease in raw milk prices in Ukraine is likely due to the limited purchasing power of Ukrainians and the decrease in the consumption of dairy products in the domestic market. Ukrainian consumers were not ready for a sharp jump in prices for dairy products in retail chains at the end of 2024. Purchase prices are pressured by low demand from dairy processing enterprises and a surplus of raw milk in Ukraine.