EkoNiva leads Russia’s raw milk producers with 1.45 million tonnes in 2025

EkoNiva takes first place in national ranking

EkoNiva, a dairy holding associated with Russia’s Voronezh region, produced 1.45 million tonnes of raw milk in physical weight in 2025, making it the country’s largest producer. The regional Ministry of Agriculture reported the result, citing an annual ranking of Russia’s 30 largest dairy companies by gross milk yield.

The ranking was prepared by analysts from the National Union of Milk Producers, Streda Consulting and Milknews. It measures production at company level, providing processors, suppliers and investors with a view of concentration among Russia’s largest primary milk producers.

Output rises by 100,000 tonnes

EkoNiva increased production by 100,000 tonnes compared with 2024. Based on the reported figures, its previous-year output was therefore about 1.35 million tonnes. The latest increase represents growth of roughly 7.4%, calculated from the two disclosed production figures.

The company’s scale sets it apart from the rest of the ranking. EkoNiva’s 1.45 million tonnes were approximately equal to the combined output of the companies occupying second through seventh place. That comparison indicates a wide gap between the market leader and each of its nearest individual competitors, although production figures and names for those companies were not disclosed in the source material.

Scale matters across the dairy chain

Raw milk is the principal input for drinking milk and other dairy products. A producer operating at EkoNiva’s scale can offer processors large and relatively concentrated volumes, while changes in its production can affect demand for feed, veterinary services, farm equipment, storage and milk transport. The ranking does not provide processing volumes, prices, herd numbers or financial results, so it does not establish how the additional output affected profitability or the balance of Russia’s dairy market.

The regional ministry also linked support for large corporate groups to Russia’s national project on International Cooperation and Export. The programme is intended to create an integrated support system for domestic companies, redirect commercial activity toward friendly markets and develop infrastructure in importing countries. Updated national projects have been implemented since 2025 by decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Leadership confirmed, market impact still to emerge

For dairy-market participants, the central result is the combination of absolute volume and continued growth. EkoNiva added production equivalent to 100,000 tonnes in one year while maintaining a lead large enough for its total output to match six other top-ranked companies combined.

The available data do not say whether the increase came from a larger herd, higher yields, new farms or acquisitions. Nor do they specify how much milk was supplied to EkoNiva’s own processing operations or sold to third parties. Those details will determine whether the 2025 expansion primarily strengthens the holding’s internal dairy chain or increases the volume available to other Russian processors.