In April 2026, Ukraine reduced its export of dairy products, and the foreign exchange earnings of producers significantly decreased. As reported on May 19, 2026, by Delo ua citing the Milk Producers Association, the natural volumes of dairy product exports fell by 14% compared to March — to 10.75 thousand tons, and revenue decreased to 31.44 million dollars.
The main reason is not a collapse in demand for all Ukrainian products at once, but pressure on key categories, primarily butter. On the global market, butter prices have fallen due to an excess of raw materials in the EU, and this has hit Ukrainian processors.
For Israel, this story is particularly important: the country entered the top 10 buyers of Ukrainian dairy products. According to data provided by Delo.ua, Israel imported Ukrainian dairy goods worth 4.61 million dollars and became one of the significant external markets for Ukraine.
Exports fell: what figures does April show
In April 2026, Ukraine exported 10.75 thousand tons of dairy products. This is 14% less than in March. In monetary terms, exports brought in 31.44 million dollars.
Compared to April 2025, the picture is also negative: natural export volumes decreased by 12%, and foreign exchange earnings — by 17%.
In the first four months of 2026, Ukraine shipped abroad 41.31 thousand tons of dairy products worth 112.91 million dollars. Compared to the same period last year, this is 5% less in volume and 14% less in money.
So the problem is not just in one month. The market is experiencing a broader price and structural shift, where volumes are moderately declining, and revenues are falling more sharply.
What Ukraine sold abroad
In the export structure for April 2026, condensed milk and cream were in first place — 26%. Next came ice cream with a share of 22%, cheeses — 17%, butter — 15%, casein — 6%.
Growth compared to March was recorded in only two categories. The export of fermented dairy products increased to 641 tons, which is 5% more than the March figure. Ice cream supplies rose to 1.85 thousand tons, adding 35%.
For other positions, exports were declining.
In the annual comparison, there are also positive signals. Compared to April 2025, the supply of fermented dairy products, cheeses, and ice cream increased. Foreign exchange earnings also increased in several categories: fermented dairy products, whey, cheeses, and ice cream brought in more money than a year earlier.
But this was not enough to offset the overall market decline.
Why Ukraine’s dairy export fell
The key blow was to butter. According to USDA data, high milk yields in the EU at the beginning of 2026 led to an excess of milk, and then to a price correction for butter and cheeses. European warehouses began accumulating butter, and traders’ interest in Ukrainian supplies decreased.
For Ukraine, this is painful because about 40% of raw milk is processed into butter.
Ukrainian factories mainly operate in two directions: they produce whole milk products for the domestic market and produce dry milk and butter for export. But domestic demand is shrinking, and export categories often have low margins.
This results in double pressure. Inside the country, the consumer market is limited by war, population income, and competition. Outside, Ukrainian companies face a saturated European market and falling prices for key goods.
Imports also pressure Ukrainian producers
A separate problem is the import of dairy products into Ukraine. In April, it amounted to 5.61 thousand tons, which is 18% less than in March, and 2% less than in April 2025.
But if you look at the period January–April 2026, imports reached 22.57 thousand tons worth 111.27 million dollars. In natural terms, this is 10% more than in the same period last year.
A particularly sensitive category is cheeses. Their share in imports is 63%. This limits the demand for Ukrainian products within the country and pressures purchase prices.
According to the Milk Producers Association, protective measures are needed to stabilize the market against uncontrolled imports from Europe. Otherwise, Ukrainian producers will simultaneously lose margins in foreign markets and lose positions at home.
NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes: for the Israeli audience, this topic is important not only as economic statistics of Ukraine. Israel itself is among the buyers of Ukrainian dairy products, which means changes in Ukrainian agro-exports can also reflect on the Middle Eastern trade direction.
Israel among buyers: who entered the top 10 markets
The main market for Ukrainian dairy products remains Moldova. It occupies the first place by a large margin: the export volume there amounted to 28.12 million dollars.
In second place is Poland with an indicator of 12.82 million dollars. The third position is occupied by Germany, where products worth 10.82 million dollars were supplied.
Next are Kazakhstan — 5.96 million dollars, Azerbaijan — 5.31 million dollars, Syria — 4.72 million dollars, and Bulgaria — 4.66 million dollars.
Israel took eighth place with imports of Ukrainian dairy products worth 4.61 million dollars. After it in the ranking are Georgia with 3.93 million dollars and the USA with 3.77 million dollars.
What this means for Ukrainian business
Israel’s entry into the top 10 buyers shows that Ukrainian dairy products maintain positions not only in neighboring markets but also in more complex directions.
The Israeli market is demanding in terms of quality, logistics, standards, and supply stability. For Ukrainian companies, this is not the easiest path, but it is important: there is demand from repatriates from Ukraine, the Ukrainian community in Israel, as well as a broader consumer who chooses products based on price, taste, and availability.
At the same time, current figures show: mere presence in foreign markets is not enough. Ukrainian producers need to maintain margins, develop value-added products, depend less on raw material fluctuations, and find a balance between mass categories and more profitable niches.
Where there is growth despite the decline
Even against the backdrop of a general decline, certain segments show resilience. Ice cream in April grew by 35% compared to March in natural volumes, and revenue from it increased to 6.91 million dollars, adding 41%.
Fermented dairy products also demonstrated growth. Their export increased both in natural terms and in revenue. In the annual comparison, this category grew by 51% in volumes and by 38% in money.
This is an important signal for the market. Ukrainian dairy exports should not be viewed only through butter and dry milk. More ready-made products, recognizable categories, and goods with higher added value can become a direction where producers will be less dependent on world raw material prices.
For now, the April statistics show a cautious picture. Ukraine maintains external markets, including Israel, but earns less due to falling prices and import pressure. For the dairy industry, this means a period of complex restructuring: simply selling more is no longer enough, it is necessary to sell smarter, more expensively, and more stably.