The dairy industry operates within an economic framework in which logistics costs represent a significant share of the final product cost. In 2025, price developments for agricultural products at European Union level, as confirmed by Eurostat, were positive compared to 2024, yet pressure from transport, storage, and energy costs persisted.

Cold chains, frequent distribution, and returns management generate constant expenses that directly affect processors’ margins. The differences between vertically integrated units and fragmented ones are evident: the former are able to spread logistics costs over larger volumes, while processors with dispersed flows feel cost pressure more acutely.

For 2026, logistics efficiency becomes a strategic criterion of competitiveness. Integrating production with distribution, investments aimed at reducing energy consumption, and optimizing transport routes can partially offset raw material price volatility and help stabilize margins in a sector with relatively rigid demand.

(Photo: Freepik)