Concentrated milk and cream market in Russia

Earlier Report Observations

The market for concentrated milk and cream in Russia stood at 355 thousand tons in 2018 but fell to 300 thousand tons by 2021. This decline occurred alongside the introduction of new dairy sales regulations in 2018, which included stricter labeling rules, and was compounded by rising production costs for raw milk due to higher feed, energy, and labor expenses. A drought in southern regions in 2020 temporarily affected feed supplies, yet the market volume briefly recovered that year.

Mandatory product labeling, implemented in September 2022, reshaped the market and coincided with the entry of new producers such as GC Kalinov Most, which began output of concentrated skimmed milk. This helped lift production, and the opening of additional processing facilities in 2023 further supported output. However, by 2024, renewed cost pressures and updated labeling standards contributed to a drop in market size to 308 thousand tons.

Production continued to contract in 2025, falling to 265 thousand tons, marking a net decrease over the eight-year period.

Production concentrated milk and cream in Russia

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

Between 2018 and 2021, Russia ranked as the world's sixth-largest producer of concentrated milk and cream.

Top producers of concentrated milk and cream, 2018-2021

World map of production of concentrated milk and cream, 2018-2021

In 2021, Russia produced 268.5 thousand tonnes of concentrated milk and cream, marking a 6.3% decline from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production fell by 16.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of -5.9%. The sharpest drop occurred in 2019, at 11.1%, while 2020 saw no change, with a 0.0% increase.

Annual dynamics of production in Russia in kind, 2018-2021, K t

Exports concentrated milk and cream from Russia

Exports in kind, t

Russia's exports of concentrated milk and cream declined for the third year in a row. In 2021, export volume reached 13 734 tonnes, down 8.9% from the previous year. From 2018 to 2021, exports decreased by 20.4%, translating to an annualized rate of -7.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Russia in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine were the top buyers of concentrated milk and cream from Russia, accounting for 62.4%, 10.8%, and 6.5% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, they made up 79.7% of total exports in kind.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Russia in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2021, the value of Russia's concentrated milk and cream exports was 19 443 thousand US dollars, a slight increase of 2.4% compared to 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, exports decreased by 6.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of -2.1%. The lowest value was recorded in 2020 at 18 983 thousand US dollars, while the highest was in 2019 at 21 026 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2020, at 9.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Russia in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Throughout 2018-2021, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine remained the key partners in value terms for Russia's concentrated milk and cream exports, with shares of 63.8%, 9.2%, and 6.9%, respectively. Combined, they accounted for 79.8% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Russia in value, 2018-2021

Imports concentrated milk and cream to Russia

Imports in kind, t

Russia imported 43 843 tonnes of concentrated milk and cream in 2021, a 20.6% decrease from the previous year. Between 2018 and 2021, imports fell by 12%, equating to an annualized rate of -4.2%. The lowest volume was in 2019 at 43 624 tonnes, while the highest was in 2020 at 55 230 tonnes. The largest increase occurred in 2020, at 26.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Russia in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Belarus was the primary and nearly exclusive source for Russia's imports of concentrated milk and cream in kind, representing 98.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Russia in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of growth, Russia's imports of concentrated milk and cream declined. In 2021, import value stood at 75 359 thousand US dollars, showing a significant decrease of 10.8% year-over-year. Over the 2018-2021 period, imports increased by 32.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.9%. The highest value was recorded in 2020 at 84 508 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase occurred in 2019, at 30.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Russia in value, 2018-2021, K $ US

Throughout 2018-2021, Belarus was the key partner for Russia's imports of concentrated milk and cream in value terms, accounting for 98.8% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Russia in value, 2018-2021