Vietnamese Cocoa Poised to Compete in $127 Billion Global Chocolate Market
HANOI, VIETNAM – Vietnamese cocoa beans are receiving recognition for their quality and potential to produce high-end chocolate, positioning the country as a rising player in the global confectionery industry, experts say. Despite challenges facing the broader market – including international trade shifts and climate concerns – Vietnam’s domestic cocoa brands are experiencing rapid growth in the premium and handmade chocolate sectors.
The global chocolate market is projected to reach approximately $127 billion in 2025, up from $123 billion in 2024, representing a compound annual growth rate of around 4.8%. However, the industry faces headwinds from factors like U.S. tariffs on Belgian chocolate and Ivory Coast cocoa,alongside ongoing climate and pest issues in West Africa that threaten cocoa supplies. This creates an chance for alternative sources like Vietnam.
currently, Vietnam has 3,471 hectares dedicated to cocoa cultivation, with 2,836 hectares harvested, yielding 4,786 tonnes of dry bean production – averaging 16.9 quintals of dry beans per hectare, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Surroundings.Cocoa farming is concentrated in the central highlands, southeast, Mekong Delta, and south-central coastal regions.
“Technology and equipment are very critically important factors for Vietnamese agricultural products to compete globally,” stated Tran Duong Xuan Vu, founder and CEO of TIM Corp, a company specializing in F&B solutions.he emphasized that while soil quality is crucial, cultivation, harvesting techniques, and processing technology are equally vital in transforming high-quality beans into world-class chocolate.
The increasing demand for premium chocolate and the vulnerabilities in conventional cocoa-producing regions are driving interest in Vietnamese cocoa as a “potential hope” for the industry. Domestic brands are capitalizing on this momentum, focusing on quality and craftsmanship to establish a foothold in the growing market.
