Cocoa processing in Germany shows continued slowdown

Germany’s confectionery trade body, BDSI, reported a continued downturn in cocoa bean processing in the country, with figures down 6.7% to 90,852.1 metric tons in 2026’s first quarter, reports Neill Barston.

As the organisation noted, milling figures were also down across Europe, which is a continuation of a pattern from last year, which saw a shortage of supplies amid price volatility for the global market.

This had seen cocoa prices swing from $12,000 at the start of 2025, to under $3,000 in recent months, which has caused a sustained period of crisis in the sector, 

As the quarter figures showed, a continuation of the decline in milling volumes, which fell by 6.7% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Milling volumes also declined across Europe, both throughout the year and in the last quarter, reflecting wider uncertainty in the sector that has left farmers facing reduced pay in Ghana and Ivory Coast (by 30% and 60% respectively), affecting the viability of the industry.

The BDSI represents the economic interests of over 200 mostly medium-sized German confectionery companies. It is both a trade association and an employers’ association.

With a share of approximately 10% of total revenue, the German confectionery industry is the fourth largest sector of the German food industry. Its defining characteristic is its strong export orientation. German confectionery manufacturers employ around 60,000 people.