On 11 November 2025, an expert discussion was held to present research on the markets and requirements for exporting dairy products from Ukraine to the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. The event was part of a series of expert meetings aimed at supporting Ukrainian producers as they enter new international markets in the difficult conditions of war.
 

Why the UAE and Uzbekistan?

Both destinations were identified as promising based on the results of a large-scale study of 56 countries that demonstrated high potential for importing Ukrainian dairy products. The markets are growing rapidly, and demand for high-quality dairy products — from cheese to baby food — is steadily increasing.

During the event, Vitaliy Kunatenko, Director of the Trade Agreements Department at the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, presented the government's key results, which open up new opportunities for Ukrainian exporters.

"In recent years, Ukraine has concluded or renewed trade agreements with a number of countries, including the UAE, Turkey, Canada, EFTA countries, North Macedonia and Montenegro. The CEPA agreement with the UAE, which covers more than 98% of tariff lines, is particularly important. For the dairy sector, this means zero tariffs on 13 tariff lines immediately after the agreement enters into force," he stressed.

The state of the Ukrainian dairy market and export dynamics

A representative of the Ministry of Economy presented the participants with current indicators of the development of the Ukrainian dairy sector. According to him:

• milk production is declining mainly due to household farms, while enterprises are increasing efficiency and providing almost 87% of milk for processing;

• in the first nine months of 2025, Ukrainian exports of dairy products exceeded $323 million;

• traditional partners are Moldova, Poland and Germany, but interest from Middle Eastern countries is growing;

• UAE imports of dairy products reached $490 million in 2024, while Ukraine's share is minimal, creating great potential for growth.

Vitaliy Kunatenko also emphasised that businesses can contact the Ministry in case of discriminatory requirements or trade restrictions in foreign markets. Such issues are resolved through World Trade Organisation mechanisms, and Ukraine already has successful examples of their resolution, in particular with Saudi Arabia and Kyrgyzstan.

Detailed analytical data is provided in the presentation of the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine at the link (in Ukrainian only).

Infagro Agency Analytics: Exports Are Recovering and Growing

Vasyl Vintonyak, Director of the Infagro Agency, presented a detailed market analysis. Despite the war, Ukrainian dairy exports have exceeded pre-war levels.

According to the expert's estimates:

• in 2025, exports will grow both in real and monetary terms; expected revenue is about $430 million, and net exports are $105 million;

• more than 40% of exports go to the EU, where trade preferences apply and logistical advantages remain;

• dairy commodities (milk powder, whey, butter) still dominate the export structure, but the share of finished products with added value is increasing: ice cream, cheese, condensed milk;

• the market remains cyclical in terms of prices: butter prices fell in the autumn after record highs, while milk powder and whey remain stable.

The expert stressed that the United Arab Emirates is one of the largest importers of dairy products in the Persian Gulf region. The country consistently shows high demand for value-added products, with cheese, butter and whole milk powder accounting for the bulk of imports. The UAE purchases these products due to a lack of domestic raw materials.

Ukraine's share of the market is still small, but the high purchasing power of consumers and the culture of consuming premium products create significant potential for growth in Ukrainian exports.
The speaker also drew attention to the rapid development of the Uzbekistan market, which is home to 38% of Central Asia's population. This makes the country the largest potential consumer of dairy products in the region.

The most dynamically growing segments are:

• cheese;

• butter;

• baby food;

• drinking yoghurt and fermented milk drinks.

The expert advises Ukrainian producers to focus on products with high added value, as this segment offers the best opportunities for sustainable and long-term market entry.
 

Features of the UAE consumer market

Olga Gvozdeva, advisor to the director of the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, presented an overview of consumer preferences in both countries. The expert described the UAE as a trade hub for the entire Persian Gulf region.

She also noted that the market is showing growing demand for functional, high-protein and plant-based dairy products, especially in the categories of yoghurt, cheese and butter. The most dynamically developing segments are plant-based alternatives and premium products — organic, lactose-free and health-oriented. Hypermarkets account for over 60% of sales, supermarkets for 21%, and the rapidly growing share of online channels has reached 8.3%.

"The online segment is actively developing, with various food delivery services appearing that can deliver perishable products and fresh milk within a few hours. There is also combined online/offline delivery, where you order goods for delivery to your nearest supermarket. Whereas hypermarkets and supermarkets previously dominated the market, online sales are now growing, having already exceeded 8% and continuing to grow dynamically," the expert noted.

The UAE market research presentation is available at the link (in Ukrainian only).

The practical guide "Dairy Export to the United Arab Emirates" is available at the link (in Ukrainian only).

Additional dairy market researches and guides detailing the requirements of specific markets are also available (in Ukrainian only):

• Morocco Dairy Market Overview (in Ukrainian only)

• Saudi Arabia Dairy Market Overview (in Ukrainian only)

• Guide to Exporting Dairy Products to the Kingdom of Morocco (in Ukrainian only)

• Guide to Exporting Dairy Products to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (in Ukrainian only)

• Dairy market: overview of Europe and priority countries for export (in Ukrainian only)
   

The consumer market of Uzbekistan

Commenting on the situation in Uzbekistan, Olga Gvozdeva highlighted the demographic and logistical characteristics of the market: "The average age of the population is 29, which means that it is a very young country with a large number of young consumers. At the same time, the level of urbanisation is only 51%, which affects distribution in the country and causes certain problems with logistics, especially with perishable products or those requiring cold chain logistics."

The expert stressed that Uzbekistan is heavily dependent on imports of dairy products. The main suppliers are Russia, Belarus, Iran and Kazakhstan, while Ukraine is among the top 10 suppliers of cheese.
Dairy products occupy an important place in the daily diet of the population. Fermented drinks such as kefir, ayran and bifidok are particularly popular. The fastest growing categories are:

• ready-made baby food;

• drinking yoghurts;

• butter.

This indicates a gradual diversification and change in consumer preferences.
The presentation of the Uzbekistan market research is available at the link (in Ukrainian only).
The practical guide "Dairy export to the Republic of Uzbekistan" is available at the link (in Ukrainian only).

Regulatory requirements: what exporters need to know

Galyna Perepelytsia, a certified consultant on EU exports, technical regulation and access to foreign markets, gave a detailed presentation on the key regulatory requirements of the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. She emphasised that both countries are tightening food safety controls.

"In 2025, the United Arab Emirates will strengthen food safety by updating its legislation. Controls on imported products will be tightened, stricter checks on imported goods will be introduced, and controls on products sold on marketplaces will also be tightened. Therefore, today the requirements for products on marketplaces and the requirements for products in physical stores are the same and are very strictly regulated," Galina Perepelytsia concluded.

Regulations in the UAE:

• The current import duty rate is 5%, but after the CEPA agreement comes into force, most tariffs will be abolished;

• Mandatory certification under the Emirates Quality Mark (EQM) scheme is required for exports;

• Requirements cover labelling, proof of origin and mandatory laboratory testing.

• Special attention is paid to halal certification, which is mandatory for dairy products.

• New eco-standards are being introduced, including Nutri-Mark labelling and packaging requirements.

• The UAE recognises international safety certification systems: FSSC, BRC, IFS, as well as USDA Organic and European Organic standards.

Regarding Uzbekistan, the expert noted that there is a free trade agreement between Ukraine and Uzbekistan, which provides a zero duty rate for products with a Ukrainian CT-1 certificate. Currently, 16 Ukrainian companies have official permission to export dairy products to this country.
Uzbekistan's regulatory system is undergoing active renewal. In 2023, the country:

• abolished a number of outdated technical regulations;

• introduced new sanitary standards and an updated safety assessment system;

• tightened Halal certification requirements (its own national system has been in place since May 2023);

• introduced the "Faydalı Belgesi" label — a nutrition information food label that classifies products according to their nutritional value.

Summarising the review of the regulatory framework, the expert emphasised: "Both the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan are currently rapidly updating their legislative frameworks in an effort to improve food safety, with animal origin products receiving more attention than other products."

The full video recording of the expert discussion available at the link (in Ukrainian only).

We also invite you to take a survey to help identify countries that will be prioritised for further market research and support for Ukrainian exports.