Countries That Produce the Best Chocolate in the World
12. Republic of Türkiye
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $688 million
The Republic of Türkiye is a transcontinental country with a strong confectionery industry as well. Estimates suggest that this industry makes up to 2% of Turkey's food processing industry. Turkey sold 200,300 tons of chocolate in 2019, and the country's largest customers were Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The industry is aiming to expand its sales and set a whopping $1.5 billion export target for 2021 according to a statement from the export union. However, Turkish chocolate exports in 2021, as listed by the Harmonized Tariff Schedule item '1806 Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa', stood at $688 million with an estimated 233,254 tons shipped. Turkey's largest chocolate company in terms of market capitalization is Kent Gida Maddeleri Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S. (IST:KENT), and other firms such as Ülker Bisküvi Sanayi A.S. (IST:ULKER) and Oylum Sinai Yatirimlar Anonim Sirketi (IST:OYLUM) also manufacture and sell chocolates.
11. Swiss Confederation
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $854 million
The Swiss Confederation, or Switzerland, is a European nation that is one of the richest and most developed countries in the world. Swiss chocolate dates its way back to the 1700s when the country invented both condensed milk and then milk chocolate. In fact, Henry Nestle, the inventor of condensed milk, saw his company become the global food behemoth that is known today by his surname. Swiss companies are also known for operating their factories as museums which allow visitors to take a glimpse in their past. Given its history, it is no surprise that some of the most well-known chocolate companies are located in Switzerland. Perhaps the most renowned is Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG (SWX:LISN.SW), with others being Barry Callebaut AG (SWX:BARN) and Läderach.
10. Russia Federation
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $863 million
The Russian Federation is a transcontinental country that has had a storied relationship with chocolate. Russian chocolate companies are some of the oldest in the world, as they trace their roots back to the 1800s. However, the country's experimentation with communism led to these factories being nationalized at one point in time, as chocolate was viewed as a food of the city dwellers instead of the farmer and working class. Still, Russia exported $863 million of chocolate last year, which weighed 324,334 tons. Russian chocolate manufacturers include A. Korkunov (a Mars subsidiary), OAO Konditerskiy Kontsern Babayevskiy Open Joint-Stock Company (the oldest Russian chocolate company set up in 1804), and Rot Front Open Joint-Stock Company. The latter two are subsidiaries of United Confectioners. Despite Russia's animosity with the West, Russian consumers love consuming chocolates made by Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG (SWX:LISN.SW), Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ), and The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY).
9. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $1 billion
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, simply known as the U.K. or Britain, is one of Europe's largest economies and a great power in global politics. It is also one of Europe's largest chocolate consumers, and its chocolate processing and grinding industry are among the largest on the continent. The British chocolate and confectionery market was valued at £3.4 billion in 2022, and it is expected to grow by 4.4%. Britain's Cadbury chocolate brand is one of the most famous in the world and is currently owned by the U.S. firm Mondelez International. Other British firms headquartered in the U.K. that make chocolates are Hotel Chocolat Group plc (LON:HOTC.L) and Real Good Food plc (LON:RGD.L).
8. French Republic
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $1.55 billion
The French Republic is another prosperous European nation and another great power. Chocolate in France dates back to the 17th century, when it was limited only to the nobility, royalty, or the bourgeois. The masses on the other hand were able to enjoy chocolate in the 19th century. The first French chocolate maker was a pharmaceutical firm that started to use it for its medicinal properties. Since then, the industry has expanded greatly, as evident by France's $1.55 billion of chocolate exports last year. Most French chocolate firms are privately held, and one of the largest companies is Cémoi.
7. United States of America
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $1.68 billion
The United States of America is a global superpower and a major exporting nation. American confectionery firms are among the largest players in the world, and those that are listed on the public stock market are worth billions of dollars. The largest publicly listed American chocolate company is Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ) which has a market capitalization of a whopping $90 billion. America's second multi-billion dollar company is The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY), and a private firm Mars, Incorporated is also known all over the world and has stakes in international subsidiaries.
6. Canada
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $1.77 billion
Canada is a North American country rich in natural resources and with a strong economy that lets it rank among the list of world's First World countries. The Canadian chocolate market has grown by 2.8% on average between 2017 and 2022, and it is worth $2.7 billion in 2022. Canada's oldest chocolate company is Ganong Bros., Limited, which was set up in 1873. Its largest publicly traded confectionery firm is Rogers Sugar Inc. (TSE:RSI.TO) with a CAD$609 million market capitalization. Chocolates made by Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG (SWX:LISN.SW), Mondelez International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MDLZ), and The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) are also extremely famous in the country.
5. Netherlands
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $2.1 billi
4. Republic of Poland
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $2.3 billion
The Republic of Poland, or Poland, is a Central European country with a GDP of $1.6 trillion. It is the largest chocolate exporter in Central Europe, and the industry itself has a storied past with Polish kings introducing chocolate to the country in the 1600s and production being disrupted during the second world war. Poland’s first chocolate factory was opened in the 1800s, under the name C. E. Wedel, and started to differentiate its products from ‘mock’ chocolate with unique markings. Wedel is still in business today, under the E. Wedel branding, and the firm is owned by a South Korean group. A publicly traded Polish chocolate firm, and one of the best known in the country, is Wawel S.A. (WSE:WWL.WA).
3. Italian Republic
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $2.4 billion
The Italian Republic is a Southern and Western European country. It has a bustling chocolate industry, which produced 377,858 tons of the food last year which was valued at EUR5.1 billion. Italy produces a wide variety of chocolate products, such as chocolate bars, chocolate eggs, and chocolate spreads. Italy’s most famous chocolate brand, Ferrero Rocher, is known all over the world and is owned by Ferrero SpA. The Italian industry consists primarily of privately held chocolate companies, such as the specialty chocolate maker Amedei and Caffarel, which was the first to produce chocolate in the country.
2. Kingdom of Belgium
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $3.6 billion
The Kingdom of Belgium is a Northern European country that is one of the most prosperous nations in the world. Chocolate is a major industry in the country and has been produced in Belgium since the 1600s. Some Belgian chocolates are also known as Praline, which is a kind of chocolate with a hard outer shell and a soft inner filling. Belgians also manufacture chocolate eggs, truffles, and figurines. The Belgian chocolate industry is one of the largest in the world, with thousands of manufacturers. Some famous chocolate brands and companies are Godiva Chocolatier, Planète Chocolat, and Leonidas.
1. Federal Republic of Germany
Chocolate Exports in 2021: $5.3 billion
The Federal Republic of Germany is a Central European country that is one of Europe’s largest in terms of land mass and economy. It is one of the world’s largest consumers of chocolate, and the industry in the country itself was worth $7.9 billion in 2020 and is slated to grow at a CAGR of 3.9% until 2028 to sit at $10.8 billion. The Germans are known for several unique kinds of chocolates such as Mozartkugel and Schokoladenkuss. One large German publicly traded chocolate company is Halloren Schokoladenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft (FRA:H2RB.HM), which traces its roots back to 1804.
The Netherlands is a European country with the unique distinction of having significant portions of its land lying below the sea. While few Dutch companies are renowned for their chocolate bars, the country still lies at the heart of modern day chocolate industry. This is due to the ‘Dutch Process’ which is a chocolate extraction process pioneered in the Netherlands. The chocolate that comes out of this process is sweeter and has less caffeine and is used in a variety of products such as ice cream and hot chocolate. Some Dutch chocolate companies are Australian Homemade, Droste, and Chocolaterie Stam.