Shortly before Easter, the prices for Chocolate significantly increased. In March 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office, the price was 16.7 percent higher than in the same month of the previous year. A strong increase is also evident in the medium -term comparison: Consumers paid around 40 percent more for chocolate in 2024 than in 2020.
Not only chocolate became more expensive. Consumers also had to pay significantly more for eggs: compared to 2020, the price increased by around 38.5 percent. Food prices increased by 33.2 percent in the same period.
Within a year, the price of classic chocolate tables in particular increased – with an increase of more than 25 percent compared to March 2024. Chocolate bars and other cocoa -containing confectionery also became noticeably more expensive, they cost over ten percent more than in the previous year.
In contrast, there was a less clear picture for confectionery overall. According to the Statistical Federal Office, prices in this category increased an average of 3.1 percent. While chocolates became 14 percent more expensive and candies recorded an increase of 1.7 percent, prices for products such as chewing gum and fruit rubber fell by 2.3 percent. The price of eggs increased by 2.5 percent compared to March 2024. For comparison: The total inflation of food in total was 3.0 percent, the general inflation rate was 2.2 percent.
Long -term price increase since 2020
There are also significant price surcharges in the five -year comparison. The price for a chocolate board was 31.8 percent higher in 2024 than in 2020. For chocolate bars and other cocoa -containing products, 45.9 percent more had to be paid. Overall, confectionery has been more expensive by 29.1 percent since 2020. The prices for chewing gum, gummy bears and similar products with a plus of 39.1 percent increased particularly strongly. Pralines were more expensive by 20.3 percent, candies of 15.1 percent.
As a cause of the price increase, industry experts cite bad harvests in important growing regions. It was only on Monday that the Ivory Coast, the world’s largest cocoa producer, had warned of expected crop failures. The reason is lacking rains that could endanger the harvest between April and September. “The heavy rains are long in coming,” said farmer Albert N’Zue. This affects not only the amount, but also the quality of the harvest. “There will be problems with the quality,” said N’Zue.
