Cocoa powder and cake market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2021, the cocoa powder and cake market in Eastern Europe remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 161 and 165 thousand tons. This period was marked by high import dependency, with imports of unsweetened cocoa powder rising by 8.4% in 2018 and by 14% in 2019 to meet demand from the confectionery and cosmetics industries. The introduction of EU cadmium limits for cocoa powder from January 2019 added regulatory requirements for imported goods. By 2020, rising raw material prices and constraints on import access began to slightly reduce market volume.

Financial pressure on producers intensified from 2021, as reflected by the absence of dividend payments from a major confectionery plant. In 2022, the market volume sharply contracted to 138.1 thousand tons due to a significant spike in cocoa bean prices, which forced production cuts and a search for alternative ingredients. However, the market rebounded to 155.4 thousand tons in 2023 on strengthened demand, boosting chocolate and cocoa product output. In 2024, imports continued to grow, reaching 141.4 thousand tons, but record cocoa bean prices above $12 000 per ton, caused by poor harvests in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, kept production costs high and accelerated the use of cocoa butter substitutes.

Production cocoa powder and cake in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of cocoa powder and cake, 2017-2020

World map of production of cocoa powder and cake, 2017-2020

In Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia), cocoa powder and cake production reached 40 751 tons in 2020, representing a robust 10.2% increase compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production grew by 16.6%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 5.3%. The largest decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 1.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Following a two-year decline, cocoa powder and cake production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) rebounded in 2020. The output was valued at 116.6 million US dollars, marking a substantial 13.3% rise from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, production value decreased by 24.3%, with a compound annual growth rate of -8.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 103.0 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 31.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports cocoa powder and cake from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

Cocoa powder and cake exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) increased for the third consecutive year in 2020. Exports reached 12.0 thousand tons, showing a dramatic 31.5% rise compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, exports surged by 134.2%, with a compound annual growth rate of 32.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, the export structure for cocoa powder and cake in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) remained highly fragmented. Turkey accounted for 21.3% of exports in kind, Serbia for 7.5%, and Estonia for 5.1%. Together, these three countries represented just 33.9% of total flows, with no single country achieving a dominant share.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2020, cross-border shipments of cocoa powder and cake from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were valued at 34.4 million US dollars, which is 35.2% higher than in 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 52.1%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 15.0%. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, when exports fell by 2.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, exports in value terms were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. Turkey accounted for 16.8% of exports in value terms, Serbia for 4.5%, and Kazakhstan for 3.6%. Collectively, these three countries represented only 24.9% of total flows.

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

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports cocoa powder and cake to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, imported volumes of cocoa powder and cake in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined in 2020. Imports totaled 134.4 thousand tons, marking a slight decrease of 1.8% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports increased by 10.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 136.9 thousand tons, while the largest increase occurred in 2018, with a 9.3% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, Germany, the Netherlands, and Ghana emerged as the main sources for cocoa powder and cake imports in kind to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia). Germany accounted for 24.5% of imports in kind, the Netherlands for 19.8%, and Ghana for 11.9%. Together, these three countries represented 56.1% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2020, cocoa powder and cake shipments to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) from abroad reached 300.6 million US dollars, up by 6.3% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value increased by 4.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of 1.5%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 282.7 million US dollars, which also saw the largest decline of 2.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, the Netherlands, and Malaysia formed the main group of destinations for cocoa powder and cake imports in value terms to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia). Germany accounted for 27.6% of imports in value terms, the Netherlands for 22.1%, and Malaysia for 9.7%. Together, these three countries represented 59.4% of total import flows.

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

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020