China Chocolate Industry 2025: Market Overview & Key Trends

Chocolate is a confectionery product made primarily from cocoa-derived ingredients through processes such as fine grinding, blending, refining, and tempering. The flavor of chocolate mainly comes from cocoa itself. Theobromine and caffeine contribute a pleasant bitterness, tannins provide a subtle astringency, while cocoa butter offers a rich, smooth mouthfeel.

Chocolate is not only consumed directly but is also widely used in baking, beverages, desserts, and various food applications, making it one of the most versatile sweet products worldwide.

In recent years, driven by steady economic growth and rising living standards, consumer demand for snack foods has become increasingly diversified. Chocolate, known for its unique flavor, texture, and emotional appeal, has become one of the most popular snack categories among Chinese consumers.

In 2023, the total market size of China’s snack food industry has reached approximately RMB 1.2 trillion, providing a strong foundation for continued expansion of the chocolate market.

From an industry chain perspective, the chocolate sector is structured into three major stages:

u  Upstream – Raw Materials:
Cocoa products (cocoa powder, cocoa butter), granulated sugar, milk, nuts, liquor, and packaging materials.

u  Midstream – Manufacturing:
Key processes include roasting, crushing, mixing & grinding, refining, deacidification, tempering, depositing/molding, and cooling.

u  Downstream – Sales & Distribution:
Supermarkets, convenience stores, e-commerce platforms, gift channels, and specialty retail outlets.

This highly integrated supply chain supports the large-scale, standardized, and premium development of the chocolate industry.

At present, international brands such as Mars, Ferrero, Nestlé, and Hershey’s dominate the Chinese chocolate market. Meanwhile, emerging domestic brands are gradually breaking through this dominance through:

•      Health-oriented product innovation

•      Cultural branding and IP co-creation

•      Digital marketing and social commerce strategies

Consumer attention is shifting rapidly toward ingredient transparency, production processes, and health attributes. As a result, low-sugar, low-fat, and additive-free chocolates are becoming mainstream.

In 2025, the total market size of China’s chocolate industry is estimated to reach approximately RMB 70 billion.

      Looking ahead, several major trends are shaping the future of China’s chocolate market:

① Personalization & Customization

With growing demand for emotional consumption and gifting scenarios, brands are expected to launch customized chocolate gift box services, expanding customization toward:

•      Nutritional formulas

•      Functional ingredients

•      Specific consumption scenarios

② Cross-Industry Brand Collaborations

Chocolate brands will further strengthen cross-border cooperation by launching co-branded products with:

•      Fashion brands for limited-edition gift boxes

•     Catering brands for specialty desserts

•     IP brands for themed seasonal products

These collaborations will significantly enhance brand exposure, product uniqueness, and emotional value.