Milk production in Ukraine in 2013 could grow by 3.2% compared to 2012, to 11.75 million tonnes, the director of the cattle-breeding department at the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry of Ukraine, Andriy Hetia, has said.

"Last year we managed to stabilize milk production in Ukraine, and this upward trend will be retained in 2013. We forecast that milk production will be 11.75 million tonnes, which will provide for milk consumption per capita at 217.3 kilograms," the press service of the ministry reported on Tuesday, referring to the expert.

The expert said that imports of dairy products this year would fall by almost 21.5%, while exports will grow by 17.4%.

Growth in the sector will be reached mainly thanks to the improvement of milk production technologies at agricultural enterprises and boosting of milking along with a stabilization in the number of cows, he said.

He also said that 167 new dairy farms would be built and commissioned this year.

According to the State Statistics Service, milk production in Ukraine in 2012 grew by 2.7% on 2011, to 11.7 million tonnes.