Côte d’Ivoire was the largest outside supplier.
What this market covers
Cocoa butter is the natural fat pressed from cocoa beans. It is used by chocolate makers, cosmetics brands and pharmaceutical firms.
Typical segments
- Natural cocoa butter
- Deodorised cocoa butter
- Organic cocoa butter
- Cosmetic grade cocoa butter
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value rose 227% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €3.51 billion of products under CN code 18040000 (Cocoa butter, fat and oil) from outside the EU in 2025. | 3.51 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 18040000 were up 227% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€1.07 billion), calculated from Eurostat values. | +227 % since 2020 | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 18040000 to countries outside the EU were worth €1.97 billion in 2025. | 1.97 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 18040000 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €6.84 billion in 2025. | 6.84 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Côte d’Ivoire was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 18040000 to the EU in 2025, with €1.34 billion, or 38% of extra-EU imports. | 1.34 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 18040000 to the United States were €77.3 million in 2025. | 77.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 18040000 was €14.88 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 14.88 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Netherlands was the largest EU exporter of CN 18040000 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €1.17 billion. | 1.17 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 7,148 enterprises in NACE class C1082 (Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery) in 2023. | 7,148 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C1082 had net turnover of €60.00 billion in 2023. | 60.00 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1082 employed 178,089 people across the EU in 2023. | 178,089 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 358 private establishments in NAICS 311351 (Chocolate and confectionery manufacturing from cacao beans) in 2025. | 358 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 311351 employed an average of 9,322 people in US private industry in 2025. | 9,322 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 311351 changed by +1% between 2020 (9,221 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +1 % since 2020 | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 311351 was $83,645 in 2025. | 83,645 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 18040000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3508766448
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 18040000, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 1073689103; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 3508766448
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 18040000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1969083101
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 18040000, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 6836451904
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 18040000, partner CI, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1341762023
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 18040000, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 77349670
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 18040000, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 3508766448, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 2358747
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter NL, product 18040000, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1169523935
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1082, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 7148
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1082, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 60000
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1082, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 178089
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 311351, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311351, annual_avg_estabs 358
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311351, annual_avg_emplvl 9322
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 9221; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 9322
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311351, avg_annual_pay 83645
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Chocolate manufacturers
- Cosmetics brands
- Pharmaceutical firms
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU cocoa butter market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €3.51 billion of goods under CN 18040000 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €1.97 billion.
Where does the EU import cocoa butter from?
Côte d’Ivoire was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included Ghana, Cameroon, Indonesia.
What is the average import price of cocoa butter in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €14.88 per kilogram for CN 18040000 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most cocoa butter?
Netherlands led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Germany, France.
How many US companies are in the cocoa butter industry?
BLS counts 358 private establishments in NAICS 311351 (Chocolate and confectionery manufacturing from cacao beans), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the cocoa butter industry?
Eurostat counts 7,148 enterprises in NACE class C1082 (Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery).
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