Swiss perspectives in 10 languages

Record exports drive up Swiss chocolate sales

Chocolate production line
Swiss consumers also appear to be rediscovering their love of chocolate. © Keystone / Gaetan Bally

The value of Swiss chocolate exports topped CHF1 billion ($1.05 billion) for the first time last year, led by increased demand from Canada, the United States, China, the Middle East and Singapore.

Domestic consumption of the delicacy also grew slightly following declining demand in previous years. Sales for Swiss chocolate makers rose 2.2% in 2019 to reach almost CHF1.79 billion.

Nearly three quarters of sales were achieved abroad, a proportion that increased slightly from 72.5% in 2018 to 73.7% last year. The European Union is the most dominant market but growth in export sales was more notable further afield.

Annual per capita consumption in Switzerland rose 0.8% at 10.4 kilograms, bucking a recent negative trend. Swiss consumers also have a taste for foreign chocolate, with imports making up 41% of all sales.

The Swiss Chocolate Association, ChocosuisseExternal link, nevertheless complained that production costs for the luxury food in Switzerland are hampered by tariffs that favour domestic ingredients, such as sugar. This creates “unnecessary additional costs”, the association said in a statementExternal link.

Chocosuisse also called for the swift ratification of a free trade agreement with Mercosur states that would open up “non-discriminatory access to more than 260 million consumers”.


More
​​​​​​​

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Gestational diabetes increases the risk of adult-onset diabetes

More

Gestational diabetes found to increase risk of adult-onset diabetes

This content was published on A research team from the Lake Geneva region has identified persistent dysfunctions in glucose regulation in women with gestational diabetes. In the long term, this can increase the risk of adult-onset diabetes by up to ten times.

Read more: Gestational diabetes found to increase risk of adult-onset diabetes
The Graubünden village of Brienz has to be evacuated by midday on Sunday

More

Swiss village must be evacuated by midday on Sunday

This content was published on The village of Brienz-Brinzauls in eastern Switzerland, which is threatened by a rockfall, must be evacuated by 1pm on Sunday. All residents must leave the village.

Read more: Swiss village must be evacuated by midday on Sunday
Former judge in Chur found guilty of rape

More

Former Swiss judge found guilty of rape

This content was published on A former judge of the Graubünden Administrative Court in eastern Switzerland has been found guilty of rape, sexual harassment and threatening a former trainee.

Read more: Former Swiss judge found guilty of rape

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR