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| Cheap imports increase pressure on Slovak dairy farmers |
| Bratislava, 17.02.2026 |
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| The Slovak dairy sector is facing growing pressure from increased imports of dairy products from abroad. Products that enter the Slovak market at prices that distort competition reduce the competitiveness of domestic processors and primary producers and disrupt market stability. This was stated by the president of the Slovak Dairy Farmers' Association (ZSM), Martin Mellen.
According to him, current market developments are already directly creating pressure for a decrease in the purchase prices of raw milk. If prices continue to fall, it will not be possible to cover the real production costs of dairy farmers, which poses a serious risk to the stability of primary production in Slovakia.
"Slovak milk producers and dairy farmers are exposed to strong pressure from imports that enter our market at prices that do not correspond to real production costs. Such developments distort the market, push domestic production off the shelves and increase uncertainty in the entire sector," Mellen specified.
According to him, the situation is all the more serious because in 2025 Slovakia imported food worth approximately three billion euros. According to dairy farmers, imports of dairy products, especially UHT milk, butter and cheese, significantly exceed the usual quantities. While Slovak processors have growing stocks, foreign producers are placing their surpluses on the Slovak market.
The union also pointed out that other countries are approaching the crisis actively and systematically. For example, Poland is buying up powdered milk for intervention stocks at a price higher than the market price, thereby stabilizing the sector and providing direct support to dairies. Support schemes in many EU countries are set up long-term and systematically, which is visible in investments in primary production and processing.
"Slovakia has long lacked systematic protection of the domestic market and a stable investment environment. If these problems are not addressed conceptually, the decline in self-sufficiency and the decline in production will continue. Agriculture is a sector with a long-term perspective that is sensitive to climate fluctuations, rising costs and market turbulence. One-off solutions are not enough," Mellen warned.
According to dairy farmers, uncertainty in the sector also has another negative consequence, which is the declining interest of young people in entering primary production and processing. Without a stable and predictable environment, it is difficult to plan investments, wages or farm development.
The Slovak Dairy Farmers' Union therefore calls for more consistent control of imports, fair setting of trade relations within the supply chain and the introduction of long-term support mechanisms that will ensure the stability of domestic production, jobs in rural areas and food security in Slovakia.odkaz na stránku |
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Address : Euro-Brew Ltd., Hlboká 22, 917 01 Trnava, Slovakia
Tel. : +421 33 53 418 53, Fax : +421 33 53 418 52, E-mail : info@eurobrew.sk |
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