Figures that might surprise many: Germany is by far the country with the highest export rate for chocolate products. If you guessed Switzerland, you’d be wrong. German exports surpass those of Switzerland by almost threefold. While the Swiss consume more chocolate, the money from the “sweet gold” is made in Germany. But who is behind the chocolate “Made in Germany”?
Not Just the Big Names
Ritter Sport, Trumpf, and the infamous Lindt Easter Bunny are all well-known names. Halloren, founded in 1804 and based in Halle an der Saale, is Germany’s oldest chocolate factory. Unlike Lindt, the German subsidiary of Swiss-based Lindt & Sprüngli, Sarotti is a purely German company, established in 1852. However, being a world champion in chocolate exports doesn’t mean that only companies firmly in German hands contribute to these statistics. Sarotti, once owned by Stollwerck, was eventually sold along with Stollwerck to the Belgian group Baronie.
The famous Eszet bars, named after their founders Staengel and Ziller, were also acquired by Stollwerck. And anyone who assumes that “Chocolatier Hachez” is Swiss based on its name would also be mistaken. The company was founded in Bremen in 1890 and is now part of the Danish confectionery group Toms.
Rapid Growth in Export Volumes
Looking at how German chocolate exports have developed is astonishing. In 2008, exports amounted to 615,572 tons; by 2023, this volume had grown by a third to 989,674 tons shipped abroad.
Chocolate Faces Massive Price Increases
The German chocolate industry sources most of its cocoa from the Netherlands—the world’s largest importer—and one-third directly from Côte d’Ivoire, the world’s largest cocoa producer.
However, Germany’s leading position as an exporter faces challenges due to price-driven demand declines. On December 3, 2024, Handelsblatt reported a 91.5% increase in cocoa prices from September to October 2024. The primary reason is global shortages caused by poor harvests, particularly in West Africa’s main growing regions (source: handelsblatt.com).
The largest price spike for cocoa beans occurred in April with an increase of 208%. The only silver lining is that competitors like Switzerland also lack domestic production and are equally affected by rising prices.
What Are the Prospects for German Chocolate Exports?
Since producing and exporting countries source their raw materials from the same suppliers, cocoa price pressure affects all manufacturers equally. However, those who can best offset these costs in other areas of business will pass on the smallest price increases to end consumers.
Beyond raw material prices, German chocolate manufacturers now face another challenge: higher tariffs on exports to the U.S., which loom like a sword of Damocles over the industry. The U.S., after all, is the world’s largest importer of chocolate. Ironically, its biggest suppliers are Canada and Mexico—countries that Trump also targeted with trade wars.
Rapid Growth in Vegan Chocolate Market
If German manufacturers want to maintain their top position as chocolate exporters, they must allocate more space in their product lines to vegan products. The global market for vegan chocolate is projected to grow by an average of 13.42% annually between 2024 and 2032—from $1.378 billion to $3.775 billion—nearly tripling (source: fortunebusinessinsights.com). This market should not be overlooked by German producers.
