‘Made in EU’ chocolate exports increase: 867 thousand tons sold in 2023

Brussels – A treat for the palate, an ally against bad moods, a temptation, and, for many, a real passion: whether you prefer milk or dark chocolate, there is no shortage of chocolate, and trade data confirm this. According to Eurostat data, EU member states exported about 867 thousand tons of chocolate and chocolate bars to third countries, a 2 percent increase compared with 2022 (852 thousand tons). Not only that, compared with 2013, exports increased by 35 percent (643 thousand tons).

Germany (221 thousand tons, or 26 percent of total exports), the Netherlands (123 thousand tons, 14 percent), and Poland ( 96 thousand tons, or 13 percent) were the main exporters of the tasty product. Belgium (96 thousand tons or 11 percent) and Italy (92 thousand tons or 11 percent) followed. In 2023, these five EU countries accounted for three-quarters of total EU exports of chocolate and chocolate bars abroad.

The main European Union customers were the United Kingdom (sales of 315 thousand tons, 36 percent of the total outside the EU) and the United States (72 thousand tons, or 8 percent). The third largest market for chocolate exports was Russia, with 65 thousand tons sold, proving that chocolate knows no crisis or sanctions.