With several large multinational chocolate manufacturers in Italy, the country ranks as Europe’s second-largest chocolate producer. Only 1.4% of imported cocoa beans are re-exported by Italy, while the remaining amount is processed domestically. With 700 thousand tonnes of chocolate produced in 2017 (18% of total European production), Italy’s chocolate industry is only smaller than Germany’s, which accounted for 32% of total European chocolate production in the same year.
Italy’s chocolate exports are estimated at around 346 thousand tonnes in 2019. That is 8.6% of the total European export volume and ranks Italy as the fifth-largest chocolate exporter in Europe. Between 2015 and 2019, Italy’s exports increased in volume at an average annual rate of 6.9%. Ferrero, Elah Dufour Group, Nestlé, Barry Callebaut and Perugina are examples of companies with manufacturing facilities in Italy.
Italy’s prominent position in the European chocolate manufacturing industry, in combination with the growing demand for chocolate worldwide, continues to make Italy an interesting destination for cocoa exporters.
Cbi.eu