Production and export of Swiss chocolate in sharp decline

According to the association Chocosuisse, the decline was apparent in both the domestic and the export business. The export business witnessed a decline across all product categories in 2020. The export volume decreased by 11.5% to 126,000 tonnes. The corresponding sales revenue fell by 13.9%. However, with a share of 70%, exports remain the most important sales channel for the Swiss chocolate industry.

In the domestic market, only the semi-finished business was better in 2020 than in the previous year; this includes e.g. chocolate mass sold to confectioners. All other product categories exhibited sharp declines. The volume of Swiss chocolate sold in the domestic market fell by 6.9% and the corresponding sales by 15.1%. Swiss per capita consumption fell below 10 kg (to 9.9 kg) for the first time since 1982. This decline was at the expense of chocolate produced in Switzerland, as the import volume of foreign chocolate increased in 2020 (+ 1.8%). This equates to a rise in import share from 41% to 43%.

A chocolate factory was closed in 2017 when production was transferred to France; another chocolate factory closed for good in 2020. 16 factories remain in business in Switzerland today. Across the industry as a whole, the number of employees fell by 4.8% in 2020.