Milk market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the milk market in Eastern Europe remained stable, with volumes hovering around 47 500 thousand tonnes annually. This stability was supported by continuous investments in farm modernization and efficiency gains, which raised cow productivity and expanded the share of large-scale operations. New product segments like organic milk and probiotic-enriched dairy items emerged, stimulating consumer interest. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought supply chain disruptions and shifted preferences toward functional and organic products, yet the market volume showed slight resilience.

Market volume plunged by 26% to 35 272 thousand tonnes in 2021, primarily driven by a sharp increase in raw material and energy costs that elevated production expenses and constrained output. The downturn intensified in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which caused severe supply disruptions, altered export routes, and further inflated feed and energy prices, pushing volumes down to 34 921 thousand tonnes. A partial recovery occurred in 2023, with volume rebounding to 43 738 thousand tonnes, fueled by production growth in Poland and other EU countries, post-crisis price stabilization, and expanded dairy exports to new markets.

Production milk in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of milk, 2017-2020

World map of production of milk, 2017-2020

In Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), milk production in 2020 reached 49 295 K t, showing virtually no change from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 29.4%, which translates to an annualized rate of 9.0%. The highest production level was recorded in 2018 at 49 440 K t, with the largest annual increase of 29.8% also occurring that year. In contrast, 2019 saw the most significant decline of 0.7%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Milk production value in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 42 088 M $ US, down by 1.7% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 18.7%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 44 125 M $ US, which also saw the largest annual increase of 24.5%. The most significant decline occurred in 2019, with a drop of 3.0%.

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

Exports milk from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

Milk exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 2 742 K t, reflecting a modest rise of 2.3% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports grew by 9.6%, equating to an annualized rate of 3.1%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the export market for milk in kind was diverse. Germany accounted for 40.8% of exports in kind, Italy for 5.3%, and China for 3.0%, together making up just 49.1% of total flows. The remaining 50.9% was distributed among numerous other countries.

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

Milk export values from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 2 341 M $ US, showing little to no change compared to 2019. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 2 291 M $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 1.6%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 1.9%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, milk export values from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were not highly concentrated. Germany represented 25.7% of exports in value terms, Italy 4.1%, and Kazakhstan 4.0%, together capturing only 33.8% of total flows.

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 milk to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, milk imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) totaled 956 K t, marking a decline of 6.3% compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 7.8%, equating to an annualized rate of 2.7%. The lowest import volume was recorded in 2018 at 783 K t, which also experienced the largest decline of 24.4%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 30.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, milk imports in kind into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) came from a wide range of markets. Germany accounted for 11.5% of imports in kind, Lithuania for 8.4%, and Kazakhstan for 2.4%, together making up only 22.3% of total imports. The remaining 77.7% was shared by many smaller destinations.

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

In 2020, milk imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) amounted to 1 462 M $ US, showing a moderate decline of 6.1% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 9.4%, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -3.2%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 1 341 M $ US, which also saw the largest decline of 16.9%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 16.2%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, milk import values into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were spread across many countries. Germany accounted for 14.0% of imports in value terms, Lithuania for 8.3%, and the Netherlands for 2.9%, together representing only 25.2% of total flows.

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