COCOA MARKET
Lower demand sees Brazil’s cocoa grinding drop 15%
A worker walks across cocoa beans laid out to dry in a barge on a cocoa farm along Bahia’s Cacao Coast in southern Brazil. Photo: Caio Pederneiras/Shutterstock
Brazil experienced a sharp decline in cocoa grinding in 2025, capping a difficult year for a sector that is still trying to rebuild after decades of setbacks.
The industry processed 195,882 tonnes of cocoa last year, a drop of nearly 15% from 2024 and well below the annual average of 230,000 tonnes recorded between 2020 and 2025. The figures come from industry association AIPC, which represents Brazil’s largest cocoa grinders, who together account for roughly 90% of national output.
The decline was largely driven by weaker demand, with sales of cocoa derivatives used in the chocolate and food industries fell 18% over the year.
At the same time, Brazilian cocoa production — measured by the volume of beans received by AIPC members for grinding — rose 4% to 186,137 tons. Even so, domestic output again failed to meet local demand, which was supplemented by imports.
The results underscore the broader challenges facing Brazil and the global cocoa trade. Worldwide production has…
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