Cocoa powder and cake market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

In 2018 and 2019, the Romanian cocoa powder and cake market expanded, reaching nearly 7 000 tonnes, driven by significant investments in chocolate marketing and product development that stimulated overall consumption. However, in 2020, market volume contracted to 6 601 tonnes, partly due to Nestle, a major local producer, strategically shifting its core activity from cocoa product manufacturing to non-specialized wholesale trade.

A global cocoa crisis emerged in 2021, leading to record prices for cocoa powder and supply difficulties, which drove the market's value up to $18.7 million despite only a slight increase in physical volume to 6 671 tonnes. Fierce price competition and changes in product formulations, such as reducing cocoa butter content and adding acidity regulators, also reshaped the market. In 2022, the ongoing crisis contributed to a significant drop in market volume to 5 027 tonnes, although Puratos Moldova strengthened its position by launching a line of chocolate products containing sustainable cocoa powder.

By 2023, the physical market volume recovered to 5 463 tonnes. The market continued to face challenges from high cocoa prices and supply chain constraints, which influenced both production costs and product availability.

Production cocoa powder and cake in Romania

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

Romania's production of cocoa powder and cake has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 212.1 tonnes, marking a significant 20.0% drop from the previous year. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 55%, with an average annual decline of 23.3%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Romania's cocoa powder and cake production has decreased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the output was valued at 748 thousand US dollars, down by 21.0% compared to the year before. Over the 2017-2020 period, production value declined by 52.7%, with an average annual decrease of 22.1%.

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

Exports cocoa powder and cake from Romania

Exports in kind, t

Romania exported 306 tonnes of cocoa powder and cake in 2020, a 59.6% increase from the previous year. However, over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 12.8%, with an average annual decline of 4.5%. The lowest export volume was in 2019 at 192 tonnes, while the peak was in 2018 at 439 tonnes. The sharpest drop occurred in 2019, with a 56.3% decrease.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the main buyers of Romanian cocoa powder and cake were Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine, accounting for 33.3%, 29.7%, and 13.8% of exports in kind, respectively. Together, these three countries made up 76.8% of total exports.

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

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

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Romania's cocoa powder and cake exports were valued at 1 080 thousand US dollars, a sharp 57.6% rise compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value decreased by 8.5%, with an average annual decline of 2.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 685 thousand US dollars, while the highest was in 2018 at 1 401 thousand US dollars. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 51.1% drop.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine remained the top destinations for Romanian cocoa powder and cake in value terms, with shares of 30.4%, 29.6%, and 15.2%, respectively. Combined, they accounted for 75.2% of total export value.

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

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

Imports cocoa powder and cake to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Romania's imports of cocoa powder and cake declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports stood at 6 695 tonnes, a 3.2% reduction from 2019. The highest import volume was in 2018 at 6 926 tonnes, with the largest increase that year at 4.7%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain were the leading sources of cocoa powder and cake imports to Romania, accounting for 46.2%, 18.2%, and 13.0% of imports in kind, respectively. Together, they represented 77.4% of total import volume.

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

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

Imports in value, K $ US

After two years of decline, Romania's cocoa powder and cake imports increased in 2020, reaching 15 495 thousand US dollars, a modest 4.2% rise from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, import value decreased by 5.9%, with an average annual decline of 2.0%. The lowest value was in 2019 at 14 873 thousand US dollars, with the largest drop that year at 7.0%.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain consistently led as the main sources of cocoa powder and cake imports to Romania in value terms, with shares of 46.3%, 19.4%, and 10.7%, respectively. Together, they made up 76.4% of total import value.

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

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