Russian ice cream production records 5% decrease in H1 2025

RUSSIA – Analytical data from Nielsen for the first half of 2025 indicates a 4.5% decrease in ice cream sales in Russia compared to the same period in 2024.

In the first half of 2024, sales increased by 11.8% compared to the same period in 2023, reaching 166.3 thousand tons.

Notably, the ‘impulse’ ice cream category, which showed a 14.2% growth in 2024, experienced a 3.6% decline this year. Family-sized ice cream also saw a decrease in sales by 8.0% after a 4.2% growth the previous year.

Experts link the overall decline in sales to rising prices and changing consumer preferences, notes Dmitry Dokin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kazakh Company “Shin-Line”.

According to data from CRPT, in June 2025, Russians bought less ice cream than the previous year—the number of packages decreased by 8%, and in terms of weight, purchases dropped from 53 to 48 thousand tons—nearly 10%. Ice cream production in June 2025 decreased by 7% to 65,000 tons, whereas a year ago, this figure was 70,000 tons, according to CRPT.

In 2024, the country experienced notable growth in its dairy sector, with raw milk production increasing by 3% to reach 13.2 million tonnes in the first half of 2024, according to Soyuzmoloko, a leading dairy industry association. 

According to the report, the positive trend showed an upward trajectory across various segments of the Russian dairy market, which had previously displayed mixed results.

Cream production surged by 23% to 146,500 tonnes, while cottage cheese output rose by 9% to 334,500 tonnes. 

Additionally, yogurt production climbed by 13% to 330,600 tonnes, and the ice cream sector expanded by 14%, reaching 260,300 tonnes. 

Other categories, such as sour cream and kefir, recorded modest growth of 2% and 1%, respectively, while cheese products saw a slight increase of 1% to 85,000 tonnes. 

Artem Belov, general director of Soyuzmoloko, highlighted the role of stable raw milk prices throughout 2023 in supporting the industry. 

“Despite rising prices in other food sectors, such as a 61.4% increase in egg prices, dairy products have helped mitigate overall food cost inflation,” he said. 

“By mid-2024, raw milk production had already grown nearly 4%, with dairy product prices generally trending upward.”

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