The Polish chocolate industry is gaining importance in exports

The latest report by E.Wedel, “The global and Polish  chocolate confectionary market”, indicates that this sector is entering a stage of dynamic transformation, in which competitive advantage is determined not only by taste and quality, but also by the ability to respond to global challenges and consumer preferences.

According to Global Data, the value of the global chocolate confectionery market will exceed EUR 124 billion in 2025, which means an increase of almost 20 percent over the last four years.

Global leaders and export directions

The United States (EUR 25.7 billion),the United Kingdom (EUR 9.7 billion) and Germany (EUR 9.0 billion) are at the top of the global ranking in terms of retail sales. These countries are also the largest export markets for Polish manufacturers of chocolate confectionery. At the same time, our exports are  boldly entering new foreign markets.

Poland’s export offer currently reaches over 50 countries on all continents, covering both traditional Polish diaspora markets and new, promising sales markets. Thus, the strength of Polish brands and their ability to compete with global industry leaders is growing.

The  structure of world sales

The global sales structure is dominated  by chocolate bars (EUR 34.6 billion), which remains the most popular product category. The next places are occupied by Chocolate candy bars and wafers, which are gaining thanks to the “convenience” trend, i.e. the convenience of consumption. Pralines are right behind them, which are very popular in the premium segment.

Forecasts indicate that the global value of the chocolate confectionery market will increase by 20 percent by 2029. This is a good signal for Polish manufacturers developing exports and scaling their operations on foreign markets.

Increase in the value of the Polish market

According to the report, nearly 60 percent of the value of the domestic confectionery market is made up of chocolate products, with a 10 percent increase – from PLN 11.74 billion to PLN 12.88 billion, comparing the January-July 2023 and 2025 periods.

The Polish confectionery market is characterized by a high level of maturity, competitiveness and diversity. Manufacturers are constantly innovating products, developing seasonal ranges, and experimenting with new flavour combinations.

Cost and raw material challenges

Despite positive forecasts, the chocolate industry is facing serious cost difficulties. Since 2023, cocoa prices have increased by about 230 percent. Although they have now fallen from a record high of around EUR 11.5 thousand to EUR 4.6 thousand to EUR 5.75 thousand per tonne, they still remain at a high level.

The main reasons for this situation are weaker harvests in West Africa (a region responsible for 60 percent of global cocoa production), as well as stock market speculation and an increase in purchase prices in producer countries.

In addition, in 2025, the prices of egg raw materials were 30 percent higher than a year earlier, which is the result of limited supply after the bird flu epidemic. High energy costs and geopolitical tensions are also driving up production costs and lengthening supply chains.

ESG Regulation and Transformation

New EU regulations, such as EUDR, SUP, PPWR or CSRD, which impose obligations on companies in the field of traceability of raw materials, non-financial reporting and reducing the environmental impact of their activities, have an increasing impact on the functioning of the industry.

Their implementation requires significant organizational and financial outlays, but at the same time it is an impulse to implement sustainable practices and build transparent value chains. Many companies are currently conducting ESG transformation processes aimed at long-term adaptation of their operations to the requirements of sustainable development.

Consumers and new experiences

The report indicates that the main factor in market development remains consumer’s changing expectations. The younger generations (16-44 years old) are more likely to look for new taste experiences and pay attention to product prices, while people over 55  prefer proven classics, such as chocolate bars or halva, and more often choose products of Polish origin.

For manufacturers, this means the need to combine tradition with innovation – both in the product range and in the ways of communicating with the market.

In the light of the report, chocolate remains one of the most stable and promising segments of food exports. Polish companies in the chocolate confectionery sector, taking advantage of the growing global demand, high quality products and a strong image of the “Made in Poland” brand, have an increasing share in the global confectionery trade, which will certainly increase.

Source: Wedel: 5th edition of the report “Global and Polish market of chocolate sweets”

Translated by IDC

JL