Netherlands overtakes Germany as world’s top cocoa exporter
The Netherlands became the world’s largest exporter of cocoa products in 2025, overtaking Germany for the first time since 2010, according to figures released by the CBS. The country exported 12.4 billion euros in cocoa products last year, compared with 11.4 billion euros for Germany.
The Netherlands is also the world’s largest importer of cocoa beans and the leading global trader of cocoa beans and cocoa products combined. Cocoa products include chocolate, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, and cocoa powder.
Dutch cocoa product exports nearly tripled from 4.2 billion euros in 2020 to 12.4 billion euros in 2025. CBS said the increase was driven primarily by a sharp rise in cocoa bean prices following several years of poor harvests in West Africa linked to adverse weather conditions. The Dutch economy earned about 3 billion euros from cocoa product exports in 2025.
Germany is the largest destination for Dutch cocoa exports, accounting for 25 percent, followed by Belgium at 13 percent. France and the United Kingdom are also major buyers, with the United States the largest non-European destination. Germany’s exports consist mainly of chocolate, while the Dutch export mix is about three-quarters semi-finished products and one-quarter chocolate. Germany and Belgium export more finished chocolate.
Combined import and export flows make the Netherlands the largest global cocoa trade hub. The country imported 11.4 billion euros in cocoa beans and products, making it the second-largest importer globally, behind only the United States (11.8 billion euros) and ahead of Germany (10.8 billion euros). It remains the world’s largest importer of cocoa beans specifically.
About 27 percent of Dutch cocoa bean imports come from Côte d’Ivoire, the largest supplier. Additional supply comes from Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, as well as Belgium and Germany, which supply mainly chocolate products.
Imports from Cameroon rose from 8 percent in 2020 to 11 percent in 2025, while Nigeria increased from 5 percent to 11 percent. Ecuador and Guinea are also emerging suppliers, while the relative share of Côte d’Ivoire, Belgium, Germany, and France has declined.
