According to data from Germany’s BDSI trade association, cocoa grinding in Germany totaled 94,882 tons in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 5.45% year-over-year decline amid ongoing pressure in the industry.
The German cocoa sector has faced instability over the past 18 months due to rising cocoa and energy costs, impacting both production and operations. Reports indicate that all ten German companies involved in cocoa processing experienced a drop in output.
At the same time, in recent months, weakening consumer demand and the unwinding of speculative positions have cooled cocoa futures prices, which have fallen from historic highs of around $12,000 per ton to about $6,000 per ton this month.
Data also shows that cocoa grinding across Europe continues to decline. According to the European Cocoa Organization, Europe processed 337,353 tons of cocoa in the third quarter of 2025, a 4.8% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Notably, the confectionery sector is Germany’s fourth-largest food industry segment, accounting for roughly 10% of total sales and employing around 60,000 people. A key characteristic of this industry is its strong export orientation.