Swiss Chocolate breaks records at home and abroad

In 2007, in terms of both quantity and of sales value, the Swiss chocolate industry once again significantly improved on its results for the previous year. This increase as compared to 2006 was largely due to highly gratifying developments in the export sector. But on the domestic market too – which is at saturation point to a very great extent – the industry was able to increase the size and value of turnover. In a year-on-year comparison, sales of the 18 Swiss chocolate manufacturers went up 7.7% to 181,266 tonnes. Compared to 2006, turnover across the industry rose 9.0%, reaching CHF 1,662 m. Of that total production, as much as 60.5% was sold abroad (2006: 58.7%).


Domestic sales for the Swiss manufacturers amounted to 71,657 tonnes, which was 3.1% higher than the previous year. In terms of value, sales reached CHF 829 m (up 4.6% on 2006). The proportion of imported chocolate consumed on the domestic market rose once again and has now reached 30.5%. Foreign sales reached 109,609 tonnes representing a rise of no less than 11.0%. The increase in terms of value, up 13.8%, was even higher and amounted to CHF 833 m. As always, Germany with its export share of 18.7%, led the almost 150 export markets – ahead of the UK (13.7%) which overtook France (9.6%) with the USA (7.9%). Swiss chocolate also enjoyed highly successful sales in the EU countries with a rise in quantity of 13.9% and a rise in turnover of 18.8%. The biggest growth rates on the EU markets came with deliveries to Belgium (with 67.3% in quantity and 68.4% in value) as well as the UK (with 49.8% in quantity and 52.9% in value). Outside the EU, the industry was also able to notch up impressive sales increases in the USA, Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Thailand and China.