Swiss chocolate sales melt in 2009

Consumption of Swiss chocolates melted with the economic crisis in 2009 but new markets like China and the Gulf states grew sharply, data released by the chocolate makers association showed yesterday.

Chocosuisse, which groups 18 Swiss chocolate makers, said in a statement that sales results at home and abroad last year left a "bittersweet taste".

Overall sales fell for the first time in six years, declining by nearly six per cent to 174,109 tonnes, some CHF1.7 billion worth of chocolate, the association said. Exports, which account for about 60 per cent of sales, fell by 9.9 per cent in value terms to CHF832 million, especially in top market Germany.

But sales shot up by 34 per cent in chocolate-making rival Belgium and showed "impressive sales growth" in Australia, China and several Gulf states, Chocosuisse said.

Even the Swiss tempered their sweet tooth in the crisis, eating 700 grammes less per inhabitant over the year, but still some 11.7 kilogrammes each.