Fermented Milk Price Trend and Forecast 2026-2027

The United States paid the most for fermented milk in Q3 2026: USD 2,100/MT, up 1.4% from USD 2,071/MT in Q2. High labor and packaging costs and steady demand from retailers and health food brands keep American prices above the other three markets. Worldwide, the average rose 1.3% to USD 1,825/MT from USD 1,801/MT, mostly because higher milk and packaging costs and firm demand from retailers led dairies to raise prices in all four markets. What about Q4 2026? We expect a global average somewhere in the USD 1,780-1,925/MT range, with milk prices, packaging and energy costs, demand from retailers and health food brands and holiday orders doing most of the work.

Fermented milk is milk that has been soured by live bacteria cultures, such as yogurt, kefir, buttermilk and drinkable yogurt. It is sold plain, flavored and with fruit, and it is eaten for taste and for gut health. Prices in this report refer to plain bulk fermented milk for retail and food makers and are quoted per metric ton. They depend on milk prices, packaging and energy costs and demand from retailers.

Dairies heat milk, add starter cultures, hold it at a set temperature until it sets, then cool and pack it. Germany, France, Poland and the United States are large producers, and Russia and Turkey also make large volumes. Fermented milk has a short shelf life, so most is sold within the country of origin. Retailers buy under contract, and private label products compete with brands.

Fermented Milk Price Forecast for 2026

Prices should rise modestly through the rest of 2026. Milk and packaging costs are firm and demand from retailers is steady. Strong competition from private label products limits the size of the increase. A year ago the global average was USD 1,750/MT, and the latest quarter, at USD 1,825/MT, is 4.3% higher.

For Q4, risks to the price are evenly spread. What could push prices higher? Higher milk prices, higher packaging costs or stronger demand for gut health products would lift prices. What could pull them lower? Lower milk prices, strong private label competition or weaker retail demand would lower prices.

For the Quarter Ending September 2026

Fermented Milk Prices Q3 2026:

• Poland: USD 1,500/MT
• Germany: USD 1,750/MT
• France: USD 1,950/MT
• United States: USD 2,100/MT

Fermented Milk Prices in Poland

Poland firmed 1.5% to USD 1,500/MT in Q3 2026, from USD 1,478/MT in Q2. Polish prices rose as the demand from retailers improved. The Q3 2025 average of USD 1,431/MT puts the current price 4.8% above its level a year earlier. Against the four-market average of USD 1,825/MT, Poland stood 17.8% below in the quarter.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q3 2026 in Poland?

Poland rose. Demand from retailers improved, milk costs increased, and dairies raised prices. Year to date, Poland is 3.5% higher than the Q4 2025 level of USD 1,449/MT, while the global average is 3.2% higher. On the global measure the average was 1.3% higher over the quarter. This represents a quarter-on-quarter change of 1.5% for Poland.

Fermented Milk Prices in Germany

In Q3 2026, the average price in Germany rose 1.3% to USD 1,750/MT, compared with USD 1,728/MT in Q2. German prices rose as the demand from retailers improved. Year on year, the average is 4.1% higher, against USD 1,681/MT in Q3 2025. Germany finished Q3 2026 4.1% below the four-market average of USD 1,825/MT.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q3 2026 in Germany?

Germany rose. Demand from retailers improved, milk costs increased, and dairies raised offers. Over the first nine months of 2026 the price in Germany has risen by 3.1%, which compares with a 3.2% gain in the global average. For comparison, the global average moved 1.3% higher over the same quarter. Germany moved 1.3% quarter on quarter.

Fermented Milk Prices in France

France's average moved up 1.2% in Q3 2026, to USD 1,950/MT from USD 1,927/MT in Q2. French prices rose as the demand from retailers and food makers improved. The current level is 3.8% above the Q3 2025 average of USD 1,878/MT. The four markets averaged USD 1,825/MT in the quarter, so the price in France was 6.8% higher.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q3 2026 in France?

France rose. Demand from retailers and food makers improved, milk costs increased, and dairies raised prices. Since the end of 2025, the price in France has risen 2.8%, from USD 1,896/MT to USD 1,950/MT, while the global average has risen 3.2%. The global average shifted 1.3% higher in the same quarter. The quarterly change in France was 1.2%.

Fermented Milk Prices in United States

Prices in the United States firmed 1.4% in Q3 2026 to USD 2,100/MT, compared with USD 2,071/MT in Q2. American prices rose as the demand from retailers and health food brands improved. A year earlier, in Q3 2025, the average stood at USD 2,010/MT, which makes the current price 4.5% higher. In comparison with the average of USD 1,825/MT across the four markets, the price in the United States was 15.1% higher.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q3 2026 in United States?

The United States rose. Demand from retailers and health food brands improved, milk costs increased, and dairies raised prices. The cumulative 2026 change for the United States is a 3.2% increase, from USD 2,034/MT to USD 2,100/MT, while the global average shows a 3.2% gain over the same period. Across the four markets the average was 1.3% higher on the quarter.

For the Quarter Ending June 2026

Fermented Milk Prices Q2 2026:

• Poland: USD 1,478/MT
• Germany: USD 1,728/MT
• France: USD 1,927/MT
• United States: USD 2,071/MT

Fermented Milk Prices in Poland

Prices in Poland firmed 1.1% in Q2 2026 to USD 1,478/MT, compared with USD 1,462/MT in Q1. Polish prices rose as the demand from retailers strengthened. Compared with Q2 2025, when Poland averaged USD 1,404/MT, the current price is 5.3% higher. The gap to the four-market average of USD 1,801/MT was 17.9% below for Poland.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q2 2026 in Poland?

Poland rose. Demand from retailers strengthened, milk costs went up, and dairies lifted prices. This came on top of a 0.9% gain in Q1, and the average ended 5.3% above its level of a year earlier, when it stood at USD 1,404/MT. Q3 added to the change, with the price at USD 1,500/MT.

Fermented Milk Prices in Germany

Germany recorded a 1.1% gain in Q2 2026, with the average reaching USD 1,728/MT against USD 1,710/MT in Q1. German prices rose as the demand from retailers strengthened. Measured against Q2 2025, when the average stood at USD 1,654/MT, the market is 4.5% higher. Relative to the four-market average of USD 1,801/MT, Germany traded 4.1% below in Q2 2026.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q2 2026 in Germany?

Germany rose. Demand from retailers strengthened, energy costs went up, and dairies lifted offers. Q1 had brought a 0.8% gain, and by the end of Q2 the price was 4.5% above the Q2 2025 average of USD 1,654/MT. The move then extended in Q3, taking the price to USD 1,750/MT. On the global measure the average was 1.0% higher over the quarter.

Fermented Milk Prices in France

The Q2 2026 average for France stood at USD 1,927/MT, an increase of 0.9% on the USD 1,910/MT recorded in Q1. French prices rose as the demand from retailers strengthened. In Q2 2025 the average was USD 1,849/MT, so the market is 4.2% higher on a yearly basis. This places France 7.0% above the four-market average of USD 1,801/MT for Q2 2026.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q2 2026 in France?

France rose. Demand from retailers strengthened, packaging costs went up, and dairies lifted prices. Coming after a 0.7% gain in Q1, the Q2 figure sits 4.2% above the USD 1,849/MT of Q2 2025. The same direction continued in Q3, with the price reaching USD 1,950/MT. For comparison, the global average moved 1.0% higher over the same quarter.

Fermented Milk Prices in United States

The United States registered a 1.0% increase in Q2 2026, taking the average to USD 2,071/MT from USD 2,051/MT in Q1. American prices rose as the demand from retailers strengthened. This represents a 5.1% increase on the USD 1,971/MT recorded in Q2 2025. Against the four-market average of USD 1,801/MT, the United States stood 15.0% above in the quarter.

Why did the price of Fermented Milk change in Q2 2026 in United States?

The United States rose. Demand from retailers strengthened, labor costs went up, and dairies lifted prices. The 0.8% gain in Q1 set the base, and Q2 finished 5.1% above the USD 1,971/MT recorded a year earlier. Q3 added to the change, with the price at USD 2,100/MT. The global average shifted 1.0% higher in the same quarter.

Quarterly Fermented Milk Price Trends

Fermented Milk prices rose through 2025 and the first half of 2026 and rose again in the third quarter in all four markets. The global average moved from USD 1,693/MT in Q1 2025 to 1,720 in Q2, 1,750 in Q3 and 1,769 in Q4, then 1,783 in Q1 2026, 1,801 in Q2 and 1,825 in Q3, a net gain of roughly 7.8% across the window. Higher milk and packaging costs and steady demand from retailers lifted prices for six quarters.

What was Fermented Milk Price in 2025?

2025 was a year of gradual increases for fermented milk, with prices rising in each quarter in all four markets. Starting near USD 1,693/MT in Q1, the global average finished the year at 1,769 in Q4, a gain of about 4.5%. Higher milk and packaging costs and steady demand from retailers supported dairies throughout the year.

Fermented Milk Prices in Poland in 2025

In Poland, prices moved from about USD 1,380/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,449/MT by Q4, up roughly 5.0%. Polish prices rose gradually as milk costs and demand from retailers increased. Relative to the end of 2025, the price in Poland is 3.5% higher at USD 1,500/MT. The quarterly breakdown above allows each stage of that path to be traced.

Fermented Milk Prices in Germany in 2025

In Germany, prices moved from about USD 1,632/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,697/MT by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. German prices rose gradually as the energy costs and demand from retailers increased. By Q3 2026 the average for Germany had reached USD 1,750/MT, 3.1% above the Q4 2025 close. The same regional pattern is carried into the quarterly analysis above, where the quarter-by-quarter figures can be traced.

Fermented Milk Prices in France in 2025

In France, prices moved from about USD 1,823/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 1,896/MT by Q4, up roughly 4.0%. French prices rose gradually as the packaging costs and demand from retailers increased. The latest quarter places France at USD 1,950/MT, which is 2.8% above the level at which 2025 ended. The quarterly sections above show how the annual average developed over the year.

Fermented Milk Prices in United States in 2025

In the United States, prices moved from about USD 1,937/MT in Q1 2025 to USD 2,034/MT by Q4, up roughly 5.0%. American prices rose gradually as the labor costs and demand from retailers increased. Since the 2025 close of USD 2,034/MT, the price in the United States has moved up 3.2%, reaching USD 2,100/MT in Q3 2026.

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Expert Market Research: Your Source for Real-Time Fermented Milk Price Intelligence

We keep a continuous eye on fermented milk prices wherever it is produced or consumed at scale, tracing causation through milk prices, packaging and energy costs, private label competition and demand from retailers and health food brands. Our forecasts draw on production data, trade flows, input cost trends and demand indicators across all reporting regions, so subscribers see why a price moved and not just that it did. Need pricing data, bespoke market analysis, or procurement advisory? Reach out to our team.