HS Code:
Subheading 1806.20.36 of the Harmonized System (HS) Code pertains to chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa, in blocks, slabs, or bars weighing more than 2 kg or in liquid, paste, powder, granular, or other bulk form in containers or immediate packings, of a content exceeding 2 kg, specifically other preparations in which the cocoa content is less than 65% by weight of the total weight. This category includes bulk chocolate preparations often used for industrial purposes or further processing in the confectionery industry.
Total Trade Volume
USD 1.2 billion
Data from 2022
Source
United Nations Comtrade Database
Average Rate
6.5%
Highest Rate
15% (applied by certain developing countries)
Lowest Rate
0% (under free trade agreements like EU-USMCA)
Rising demand for sustainable and ethically sourced cocoa
Increased costs for producers but higher consumer trust and market access in premium segments, especially in Europe and North America
2021-2022
Shift towards plant-based and low-sugar chocolate products
Growing innovation in product formulations to cater to health-conscious consumers, influencing bulk chocolate composition
2020-2022
Supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical tensions and climate change
Price volatility and supply shortages for cocoa-based products, affecting trade volumes and costs
2022
The EU introduced regulations requiring proof that cocoa products are not linked to deforestation, affecting exporters from West Africa and Latin America supplying bulk chocolate preparations.
June 2023
Potential trade barriers for non-compliant exporters but opportunities for sustainable producers to gain market share.
The United States reduced retaliatory tariffs on certain EU chocolate products as part of broader trade negotiations, benefiting exporters from Germany and Belgium.
October 2022
Increased competitiveness of EU bulk chocolate in the US market, potentially boosting trade volume.
Adverse weather conditions and political instability in major cocoa-producing countries like Côte d'Ivoire led to a significant increase in raw material costs.
March 2023
Higher production costs for bulk chocolate preparations, squeezing margins for manufacturers and exporters.