China boosts imports of Russian chocolate 5.3% in Jan-July - Chinese customs service data

MOSCOW. Aug 21 (Interfax) - China boosted purchases of imported Russian chocolate 5.3% year-on-year to $11.405 million in January-July 2024 from $10.829 million in January-July 2023, the country's General Administration of Customs said.

Supplies of Russian confectionery products that do not contain cocoa are also increasing to China, with imports rising 1.5-fold year-on-year to $863,800 in the first half of the year from $573,300 in the same period last year.

As reported, China increased imports of Russian chocolate and other products containing cocoa 1.4-fold year-on-year to $55.459 million in 2023 from $39.4 million in 2022.

The Association of Confectionery Industry Enterprises (ASKOND) estimates that supplies in physical terms surged threefold year-on-year to 33,000 tonnes from 11,000 tonnes the previous year.

ASKOND said that the Chinese market is returning to its position as one of the most attractive and fastest growing markets for the export of Russian chocolate and chocolate confectionery products. ASKOND associates further growth in supplies with the amount of government support to promote Russian confectionery products in the markets of Southeast Asian countries in general and China particularly.