A contrasted year 2015 for the Swiss chocolate industry

On the whole, however, the Swiss chocolate industry still managed to hold firm in a difficult environment, although the all-important export business is increasingly being impeded by the federal government. In 2015, Switzerland’s 18 chocolate manufacturers achieved a patchy result overall. The sales volume declined to 181,414 tonnes (- 1.3%), with clear drops recorded both on the domestic market and major export markets. It was only thanks to a few growth markets in the export business that this decline could be contained, and the sector turnover maintained slightly above the previous year at CHF 1.474 bn (+ 0.7%).

Export business thus had a stabilising effect in a difficult environment. This was made possible by framework conditions which facilitated compensation in export business for the raw-materials cost disadvantage caused by agropolitical issues. The end of the “Schoggigesetz” act, coupled with maintenance of agricultural border protection, means these framework conditions are, however, in jeopardy.

The total domestic sales by Swiss manufacturers declined by 5.9% compared to 2014, with domestic sales of semi-finished products (- 5.8%) and finished products (-  5.9%) both decreasing. The hot summer, drop in foreign tourist numbers, and increase in shopping tourism just over the border are believed to have contributed to this poor result. Per-capita chocolate consumption in Switzerland declined by 0.6 kg to 11.1 kg. The strong Swiss franc caused a price reduction in imports, and an increase from 37.2% to 38.7% in the amount of imported chocolate making up domestic consumption. Domestic turnover decreased by 0.9% overall.

Turnover decreased in most major export markets in 2015. Thanks to the growth in some markets, however, export business still recorded an increase overall. In Europe, it was primarily Belgium and the Netherlands which grew, while Italy and Austria registered the biggest declines in terms of quantity and turnover. The biggest markets outside Europe to record significant growth rates were Australia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Japan, while the greatest losses were noted in China (- 30%), the Philippines (- 28%) and Russia (- 26%). On balance, export sales totalled 117,031 tonnes (+ 1.4%), with a resulting turnover of CHF 843 m (+ 2.5%).