Moldova and Kazakhstan buy more than 60% of Ukraine’s cheese exports

Moldova and Kazakhstan remain the main foreign buyers of Ukrainian cheese. In January-July 2026, Moldova accounted for 34.8% of Ukraine’s cheese exports and Kazakhstan for 25.8%. Together, the two countries represented 60.6% of foreign demand for Ukrainian cheese.

Germany was the third-largest market, accounting for 13.1% of exports. Overall, the three leading destinations represented 73.7% of Ukraine’s cheese exports, highlighting the high concentration of shipments among a small number of markets.

Ukraine exported 8.2 thsd tons of cheese in the first seven months of 2026, only 1.2% more than in the same period last year. Export revenue increased by just 0.5% to $37.4 mln, while the estimated average export price remained virtually unchanged at around $4.56 thsd/t.

At the same time, Ukraine’s cheese imports are growing much faster. In January-July, the country imported 28.3 thsd tons, up 24.7% year-on-year, worth a total of $168.8 mln. As a result, cheese imports were more than three times higher than exports in volume terms.

Trade with Germany is particularly notable, as the country is simultaneously one of Ukraine’s major cheese suppliers and buyers. Germany accounts for 16.3% of Ukraine’s cheese imports and 13.1% of exports, while Moldova and Kazakhstan continue to generate the bulk of foreign demand for Ukrainian cheese.

Tags: Moldova, Cheese, Ukraine, Kazakhstan