Filled chocolate bars market in Romania

Earlier Report Observations

The Romanian filled chocolate bar market expanded from 22 637 tonnes in 2018 to 30 850 tonnes in 2022, driven by rising local consumption and marketing campaigns. The closure of the Nestlé factory in Timișoara in 2019 reduced domestic production capacity, increasing reliance on imports which supported market volume. During the COVID-19 pandemic, local production was hit, but imports continued to grow, maintaining supply. By 2021, production began to recover and aggressive marketing, such as the Twix Back-To-School campaign, stimulated impulse purchases. Despite record cocoa bean prices exceeding $10 000 per tonne in 2022, which raised production costs, market volume still grew as major manufacturers invested in expanding production and storage capacity by up to 133%.

From 2023, the market contracted, falling to 24 495 tonnes in 2023 and 21 408 tonnes in 2024. This decline was primarily due to soaring input costs: cocoa prices doubled and the VAT on sweet products was raised from 9% to 19%. These pressures forced producers to reduce cocoa content in some products and raise retail prices, dampening consumption. Meanwhile, domestic production recovered, growing 9.2% in volume in 2023, and exports surged by 65% over four years, positioning Romania as a regional hub for premium chocolate. However, the number of large chocolate factories shrank to only three, all owned by the Austrian Meinl family, highlighting the market's structural dependence on imports.

Production filled chocolate bars in Romania

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

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

In kind, 2017-2020, t

In 2019, Romania produced 4,459 tonnes of filled chocolate bars, marking a slight increase of 0.7% compared to the previous year. Over the three-year period from 2017 to 2019, production declined by 6.2%, with an average annual decrease of 2.1%. The lowest production level was recorded in 2018 at 4,429 tonnes, which also saw the largest decline of 6.8% during this timeframe.

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

Exports filled chocolate bars from Romania

Exports in kind, t

In 2020, Romania exported 4,350 tonnes of filled chocolate bars, showing a minor decrease of 1.1% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports grew by 8%, translating to an average annual growth rate of 2.6%. The lowest export volume was in 2018 at 2,782 tonnes, while the peak occurred in 2019 with 4,400 tonnes. The most significant decline was in 2018 at 30.9%, followed by the largest increase in 2019 at 58.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Romania's exports of filled chocolate bars in volume terms were diversified, with no single country dominating the market. Bulgaria accounted for 24.3% of exports, Poland for 10.6%, and Turkey for 8.7%, collectively making up 43.6% of total flows.

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, M $ US

After two years of growth, Romania's exports of filled chocolate bars in value terms declined in 2020, reaching $22.9 million, which represents a significant drop of 13.6% compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports increased by 44.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 13.0%. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at $26.5 million, which also saw the largest increase of 50.6%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Bulgaria, Poland, and Slovakia were key buyers of filled chocolate bars from Romania in value terms, with shares of 17.7%, 12.8%, and 12.3%, respectively. Together, they accounted for 42.8% of total exports, while the remaining 57.2% was distributed among numerous other trading partners.

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

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

Imports filled chocolate bars to Romania

Imports in kind, t

Romania's imports of filled chocolate bars in volume terms increased for the third consecutive year in 2020, with a total of [value_last_year] tonnes imported, reflecting a solid rise of 11.7% compared to 2019. From 2017 to 2020, imports grew by 65.2%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 18.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands were the leading suppliers of filled chocolate bars to Romania in volume terms. Germany held a 39.9% share, Poland 12.1%, and the Netherlands 8.9%, with their combined share reaching 60.9% of total imports.

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, M $ US

Romania's imports of filled chocolate bars in value terms continued to rise for the third year in a row in 2020, amounting to $115.1 million, which indicates a strong increase of 13.6% from 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 56.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 16.2%.

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

During 2017 to 2020, Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands formed the primary group of sources for Romania's imports of filled chocolate bars in value terms. Germany accounted for 46.8%, Poland for 9.8%, and the Netherlands for 7.4%, together making up 64.0% of total import flows.

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

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