Cocoa paste market in Belgium

Earlier Report Observations

The Belgian cocoa paste market saw notable swings from 2019 to 2024, beginning with the launch of the Beyond Chocolate initiative in 2018, which reinforced the industry's focus on sustainable and traceable cocoa. This drive led to a steady rise in certified sustainable chocolate production in Belgium, helping to support market volume, which expanded to 96 216 t in 2021.

Market volume contracted to 89 019 t in 2022 and 82 702 t in 2023, pressured by a sharp spike in global cocoa prices due to successive harvest deficits and speculation. The European Union's adoption of a regulation in late 2022 banning imports linked to deforestation further tightened supply chains by imposing stricter traceability and sustainability requirements on cocoa entering the EU market.

A partial recovery to 86 574 t occurred in 2024, supported by improved traceability systems that allowed over 56% of the cocoa supply chain to be tracked to farm level. However, record-high cocoa prices continued to influence costs, even as major Belgian chocolate companies accelerated their commitments to achieve fully sustainable sourcing by 2025.

Production cocoa paste in Belgium

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

The data reveals irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Production reached its peak in 2019 and its lowest point in 2017, with a 2.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, cocoa paste output in Belgium was valued at 48 680 thousand US dollars, representing a 16.6% decrease compared to the previous year.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, t

In 2020, Belgium produced 24 064 tonnes of cocoa paste, reflecting a significant 10.9% reduction compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 31.8%, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.6%.

Annual dynamics of production in Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports cocoa paste from Belgium

Exports in kind, t

Cocoa paste exports from Belgium declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports amounted to 17 327 tonnes, showing a strong reduction of 17.3% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 5.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.9%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 21 883 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 33.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Sweden (16.4% of exports in kind), France (15.4% of exports in kind), and the Netherlands (14.1% of exports in kind) were among the largest buyers of cocoa paste from Belgium. However, even combined, they represented just 45.9% of total exports in kind, indicating a broadly diversified partner base.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Cocoa paste shipments from Belgium to abroad declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports stood at 75.7 million US dollars, marking a moderate drop of 7.0% compared to 2019. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 87.7 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 14.9%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019 at 7.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017 to 2020, cocoa paste from Belgium was supplied to many different markets. Even the largest destinations—France, Sweden, and Canada—together represented only 45.4% of total exports in value terms.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Belgium in value, 2017-2020

Imports cocoa paste to Belgium

Imports in kind, t

After a two-year advance, cocoa paste volumes imported by Belgium declined. In 2020, Belgium imported 83 560 tonnes of cocoa paste, indicating a decline of 1.7% from a year earlier. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 3.5%, equating to a 1.1% annualized rate. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 85 047 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 4.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands took the dominant position in imports in kind, accounting for 73.6% of total flows, while the remaining share was split among various smaller destinations.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

The volume of cocoa paste imports to Belgium increased for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totalled 316.0 million US dollars, which is 7.2% higher compared with 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 8.5%, with a compound annual growth rate of 2.8%. The minimum value was recorded in 2018 at 290.3 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 0.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands remained the main destination for imports in value terms, taking 73.3% of total flows, with the remaining share distributed across various smaller markets.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Belgium in value, 2017-2020