Pastry market in Caribbean

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the pastry market volume grew from 31 549 tons to 39 185 tons. Strict regulations for pastry chefs and bakeries, including hygiene and training requirements, shaped the market structure. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 temporarily affected small artisanal businesses, but a swift consumption rebound supported market growth.

Market volume dipped to 35 830 tons in 2021, coinciding with tightened hygiene and food safety rules for pastry laboratories. From 2022, the market surged to 55 660 tons and further to 65 565 tons in 2023. This sharp rise was primarily driven by the expansion of bakery-pastry chains like Marie Blachère and La Mie Câline, which increased their store networks and diversified product offerings.

In 2024, rising costs for raw materials such as butter and flour, along with the adoption of artificial intelligence to optimize production, influenced market dynamics. Consumer preferences continued shifting towards healthy, organic, gluten-free, vegan, and premium pastries, prompting manufacturers to adapt recipes. The growth of bakery-pastry chains persisted, enhancing market accessibility.

Production pastry in Caribbean

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of pastry, 2017-2020

World map of production of pastry, 2017-2020

Pastry production in the Caribbean declined after two years of growth. In 2019, production reached its peak at 7 061 tonnes, but then fell sharply in 2020 to 5 596 tonnes, representing a significant 20.7% decrease from the previous year. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production increased by 15.4%, which translates to an average annual growth rate of 4.9%. The largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2018, when production rose by 25.8%.

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

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

After two years of growth, pastry production in the Caribbean declined. In 2019, the value of pastry output peaked at 23 761 thousand US dollars, but dropped sharply in 2020 to 17 407 thousand US dollars, marking an abrupt 26.7% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 22.9%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 7.1%. The largest increase was recorded in 2018, with a rise of 37.5%.

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

Exports pastry from Caribbean

Exports in kind, t

Caribbean pastry exports declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totalled 14 917 tonnes, down by 19.2% compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, exports decreased by 39.1%, with a compound annual growth rate of -15.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, Guyana, and the United Kingdom were the leading destinations for Caribbean pastry exports in volume terms. The United States accounted for 22.8% of exports, Guyana for 8.0%, and the United Kingdom for 5.7%. Together, these three countries represented 36.5% of total export flows.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

Pastry exports from the Caribbean declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, exports stood at 46.4 million US dollars, marking an abrupt decrease of 25.4% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 35.1%, equating to an average annual decline of 13.4%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 73.9 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 3.4%.

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

Data from 2017 to 2020 show that Caribbean pastry exports in value terms were not heavily concentrated on a few key markets. The United States accounted for 22.9% of exports, Guyana for 7.6%, and the United Kingdom for 4.5%. Collectively, these three destinations represented 35.0% of total export flows.

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

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

Imports pastry to Caribbean

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Caribbean pastry imports stood at 48 506 tonnes, showing only a marginal fluctuation compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports increased by 20.4%, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.4%. The maximum volume was recorded in 2018 at 48 610 tonnes, which also saw the largest increase of 20.7%. In 2019, imports experienced a slight decline of 0.2%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, the United States, Colombia, and Peru were the main sources of pastry imports to the Caribbean in volume terms. The United States accounted for 45.7% of imports, Colombia for 12.4%, and Peru for 6.1%. Together, these three countries absorbed 64.1% of total import flows.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

After two years of growth, pastry import volumes in the Caribbean declined. In 2019, imports reached their peak at 167.1 million US dollars, but fell in 2020 to 152.9 million US dollars, marking a measured drop of 8.5% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports increased by 5.9%, equating to an average annual growth rate of 1.9%. The largest increase was recorded in 2018, with a rise of 12.8%.

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

In the period from 2017 to 2020, the United States, Colombia, and Peru formed the main cluster of markets for Caribbean pastry imports in value terms. The United States accounted for 55.3% of imports, Colombia for 7.0%, and Peru for 4.0%. Together, these three countries represented 66.4% of total import flows.

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

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