By KYIV. Dec 5 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian cheese producers are trying to maintain high production volumes, which leads to an increase in the purchase price of milk raw materials, which has led to a monthly price increase of 5% since the beginning of autumn, the industry analytical agency Infagro reported.
“Under such conditions, the cost of production increases significantly, because cheese makers have actually been increasing prices by 5% per month since the beginning of autumn. Perhaps this practice would have worked if the possibility of import did not exist. But no, imports will definitely increase, and then factories will no longer need ‘extra’ raw materials, even if they become cheaper,” analysts note.
There is currently no rapid growth in cheese imports to Ukraine due to the blocking of the Ukrainian-Polish border. As soon as this problem is solved, quite large volumes of Polish (and other) cheese will immediately be imported into the country, experts warn.
“Cheese production in recent months is higher than in pre-war 2021, and this is explained by the fact that imports are still lower. It is possible that next year cheese makers will have to significantly reduce the output of their products,” Infagro predicts.
