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The import volume of chocolate products to Japan amounted to around **** thousand metric tons in 2024. A decade high in inbound trade was recorded in 2021, boosted by the growing interest in high cocoa chocolate. The value of imports reached almost ** billion Japanese yen despite the declining shipments on a volume basis since 2022, driven by the weak yen.

Chocolate trade

The Japanese chocolate trade market is characterized by a deficit, as imports exceeded exports by almost **** times the amount. Foreign treats are imported mainly from European manufacturing countries that are renowned for their quality products, like Italy and Belgium. Whereas outbound trade of chocolate is destined for major trade partners like Hong Kong, China, and the United States, with the popularity of Japanese chocolate snacks boosted by the appearance of brands like Kit Kat and Pocky in popular culture.

Domestic chocolate industry

Chocolate is a major segment of the Japanese snack foods industry, with consumers indulging in various forms, flavors, and types of the sweet treat. To cover the high demand among domestic consumers, mass production takes precedence at large manufacturers. The distribution of hand-crafted and bean-to-bar chocolates is limited to small brand stores that are mainly catering to the luxury segment of the market. But the industry has been contemplating its contribution to sustainability goals as environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) is impacting manufacturing and marketing processes in recent years. While cocoa beans used in Japanese chocolate can be traced back to producing countries like Ghana, Ecuador, and Venezuela, transparency of the supply chains is limited as large companies are gradually taking the first steps to strengthen their relationship with local farmers.