Ice cream market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

The ice cream market in Russia experienced a multi-year contraction from 835 thousand tons in 2018 to a low of 578 thousand tons in 2022. The decline was particularly pronounced in 2020, when pandemic-related restrictions significantly impacted consumption patterns, accelerating the downward trend.

A reversal began in 2023 as market volume grew to 632 thousand tons. This recovery was supported by double-digit sales growth in Siberian, Far Eastern, Ural, and Volga regions, alongside the rapid expansion of niche segments like plant-based and high-protein ice cream, with the vegan segment growing over 50% from 2020 to 2023. By 2024, industry factors pointed to continued production growth, driven by small and medium enterprises entering the craft segment and major companies expanding capacity, although cost pressures from raw material shortages and global supply chain issues affected producer prices.

Production ice cream in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of ice cream, 2017-2020

World map of production of ice cream, 2017-2020

Ice cream production in Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, has declined for the second year in a row. In 2019, output was 791,000 tonnes, but by 2020 it had dropped to 737,714 tonnes, marking a modest decrease of 6.7%. Looking back over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 3.4%, which translates to an average annual decline of 1.1%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 867,248 tonnes, representing a significant increase of 13.6% from the previous year. However, the largest decline occurred in 2019, with an 8.9% drop.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of ice cream production in Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, has also declined for the second consecutive year. In 2019, production was valued at $2,587 million, but by 2020 it had decreased to $2,379 million, an 8.0% reduction. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at $2,959 million, which was a substantial increase of 22.5% from 2017. The most significant decline happened in 2019, with a 12.6% drop.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports ice cream from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

Exported ice cream volumes from Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, have increased for the third year in a row. In 2019, exports were 142,300 tonnes, rising to 163,800 tonnes in 2020, a growth of 15.1%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 40.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, ice cream exports from Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, were not heavily concentrated. The top three destinations—Germany with 17.9% of exports, France with 6.0%, and Kazakhstan with 5.2%—together accounted for only 29.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, ice cream shipments from Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, to abroad amounted to $528.2 million, a strong rise of 13.4% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 43.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 12.8%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 1.7%, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 28.7% jump.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The country composition of exports in value terms from 2017 to 2020 was dispersed. Germany accounted for 18.0% of exports, France for 6.5%, and the United Kingdom for 5.4%, together forming just 29.9% of total flows. The remaining 70.1% was split among a wide range of other destinations.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports ice cream to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

Imported ice cream volumes into Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, have increased for the third consecutive year. In 2019, imports were 125,800 tonnes, rising to 127,400 tonnes in 2020, a slight increase of 1.3%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 50.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, ice cream imports into Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, were not heavily concentrated. The top three sources—Germany with 21.7% of imports, Belgium with 7.2%, and France with 5.0%—together captured only 33.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Imported ice cream volumes into Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, have increased for the third year in a row. In 2019, imports were valued at $381.1 million, reaching $424.2 million in 2020, a robust gain of 11.3%. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports rose by 51.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, ice cream imports into Eastern Europe, including Northern Asia, involved many countries. Even the largest destinations—Germany, France, and Belgium—together represented only 36.2% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020