dairy products,
prices for milk
Dairy Product Prices Slowed Down but Remain Higher Than Last Year
Dairy product prices have eased over the last month amid falling raw milk prices and weak demand. At the same time, prices for most dairy products remain high compared to the same period last year.
Pasteurized milk with up to 2.6% fat in film packaging costs an average of 47.87 UAH per kg, which is 12 kopecks (+0.2%) more than the previous month and 11 kopecks (+0.2%) more than last year. The cheapest milk in 900g film is the «Adalis» brand at 41.99 UAH per kg, while the most expensive is «Yahotynske» at 57.77 UAH per kg.
Pasteurized milk with up to 2.6% fat in plastic bottles costs an average of 65.93 UAH/kg, which is 48 kopecks (-0.48%) less than the previous month but 5.01 UAH (+8%) more than last year. The cheapest milk in 870g plastic bottles is the «Metro» label at 51.61 UAH per kg, while the most expensive is «Molokia» at 71.13 UAH per kg.
Kefir with 2.5% fat in film packaging costs an average of 60.14 UAH per kg, which is 2.34 kopecks (-3.7%) less than a month ago but 7.09 UAH (+13%) more expensive than last year. The cheapest in 900g packaging is the «Auchan» brand at 46.56 UAH per kg. The highest price was recorded for «Halychyna» kefir in 900g film (63.71 UAH per kg).
Kefir with 2.5% fat in plastic bottles costs an average of 78.20 UAH per kg, which is 77 kopecks (-1%) less than a month ago but 3.90 UAH (+5%) more than last year. The cheapest «Radymo» kefir in 870g bottles costs 68.51 UAH per kg, while the most expensive product in similar packaging from «Molokia» costs 80.40 UAH per kg.
Sour cream with 15% fat in cups costs an average of 189.87 UAH per kg, which is 1.03 UAH (-0.5%) less than the previous month but 8.96 UAH per kg (+5%) more than last year. The cheapest in 300g cups is the «Auchan» label at 142.67 UAH per kg, while the most expensive is «Yahotynske» at 223.30 UAH per kg.
Sour cream with 15% fat in film packaging costs an average of 152.37 UAH per kg, which is 98 kopecks (-0.64%) less than the previous month but 14.67 UAH (+11%) more than last year. The cheapest in 350g packaging is «Kahma» (128.86 UAH per kg), while the most expensive is «Selyanske» (175.64 UAH per kg).
The average price for drinking yogurt with 1.6% to 2.8% fat in plastic bottles was 120.14 UAH per kg, which is 1.31 kopecks (+1.10%) more than the previous month and 7 UAH (+6%) more than last year. The cheapest yogurt in 250−260g plastic bottles is «Mukko» (111.60 UAH per kg), and the most expensive is «Molokia» (135.60 UAH per kg).
Spoonable yogurt with 1.6% to 2.8% fat in cups costs an average of 156.46 UAH per kg, which is 7.23 kopecks (-4.4%) less than the previous month and 2.47 UAH (-2%) less than last year. In 280g cups, the cheapest is «Selyanskyi» (133.57 UAH per kg), and the most expensive is «Ferma 'Turkish-style'» (175.60 UAH per kg).
Cottage cheese (acid curd) with 9% fat costs an average of 288.26 UAH per kg, which is 4.79 UAH (-2%) less than the previous month but 16.58 UAH (+6%) more than last year. In 350g packaging, the cheapest is the «Ukrainskyi» label (217.11 UAH per kg), while the most expensive is «Yahotynskyi» (287.95 UAH per kg).
Butter with 72.5% to 73% fat of domestic production costs an average of 573.87 UAH per kg, which is 19.70 UAH (-3.3%) less than the previous month but 7.59 UAH (+1%) more expensive than last year. Among Ukrainian brands in 180g packaging, «Radymo» butter was the cheapest at 443.89 UAH per kg. The highest price tag in this packaging is for «Klub Syru» butter at 727.22 UAH per kg.
«Lustdorf» butter with 72.5% fat in 180g packaging costs 570.69 UAH per kg, which is 80.35 UAH (-0.12%) less than the previous month and 74.76 UAH (-12%) less than last year.
«Ukrainskyi» cheese with 50% fat costs an average of 605.65 UAH per kg. Compared to the previous month, the product became more expensive by 11.11 UAH (+1.9%). The cheese increased in price by 42.73 UAH (+8%) compared to last year. In one-kilogram packaging, the cheapest is «Ukrainskyi» hard weight-based cheese at 349.00 UAH per kg, while the most expensive is «Zvenyhora» at 625.58 UAH per kg.
«Hollandskyi» (Dutch) cheese with 45% fat costs an average of 590.51 UAH per kg. Compared to the previous month, the product became cheaper by 19.19 UAH (-3.1%). Compared to last year, the cheese became more expensive by 32.57 UAH (+6%). In one-kilogram packaging, the lowest price is for «Kremenetski Dairy Products» Hollandskyi cheese at 331.20 UAH per kg, while the highest is for «Komo» at 630.59 UAH per kg.
The average price for domestic «Maasdam» cheese with 45% fat was 720.51 UAH per kg, which is 14.38 UAH (-2%) less than a month ago. The cheese costs 47.66 UAH (+7%) more than last year. Among domestic products, the cheapest in one-kilogram packaging is hard Maasdam cheese at 299.80 UAH per kg, while the most expensive is the «Novhorod-Siverskyi» brand at 599.00 UAH per kg. Imported Kroon brand Maasdam in one-kilogram packaging costs an average of 529.00 UAH per kg, which is 27% cheaper than domestic production.
«Gouda» cheese with 45% fat from Ukrainian companies costs an average of 610.94 UAH per kg, which is 31.52 UAH (+5%) more than the previous month and 13.94 UAH (+2%) more expensive than last year. Among domestic products, the cheapest in one-kilogram packaging is the «Metro» brand Gouda at 519.00 UAH per kg, while the most expensive price tag is on «Komo» Gouda at 572.00 UAH per kg. Imported Kroon brand Gouda costs 429.00 UAH per kg, which is 30% cheaper than domestic production.
«Mozzarella» with 45% fat of Ukrainian production costs an average of 580.81 UAH per kg. The cheese became cheaper by 2.87 UAH (-0.5%) compared to the previous month. Over the last year, Mozzarella increased in price by 18.98 UAH (+3%). The cheapest in one-kilogram packaging is «Metro» brand Mozzarella at 389.00 UAH per kg, while the most expensive is «Yahotynskyi» at 711.72 UAH per kg.
Over the last month, there has been a slight decrease in the prices of a significant number of dairy products. At the same time, dairy product prices remain high despite the fall in raw milk prices and weak demand on the domestic market. Drinking yogurt, Gouda, and Ukrainskyi cheeses have become more expensive. It is likely that high costs for cooling, pasteurization, and storage under blackout conditions are preventing dairy product prices from dropping sharply.
The pricing policy of retail chains does not encourage Ukrainians to buy more dairy products. Despite the decrease in prices for dairy production and raw milk, retail prices for the final consumer, particularly for butter, remain high. Supermarkets import butter and other dairy products from Poland under long-term contracts, which creates competition for domestic products on supermarket shelves.
Improving the sales of domestic dairy products within the country requires government support for Draft Law 6068-d on countering unfair trading practices of chains and the implementation of protective measures against significantly increasing dairy imports. Countering the «grey» import of dairy products into Ukraine is also necessary. Food for humanitarian kits and other state purposes should be purchased exclusively from domestic producers.