JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s cocoa and chocolate manufacturing sector is seeing growing entrepreneurial interest, with the number of active commercial registrations reaching 3,532 by the end of June.

A report by the Ministry of Commerce revealed that the Riyadh region topped the list with 1,490 active commercial registrations, followed by the Makkah region with 909 and the Eastern Province with 416. Al-Qassim and Madinah ranked fourth and fifth with 213 and 149 filings, respectively.

The chocolate manufacturing landscape in the Kingdom has evolved considerably, establishing itself as the largest producer among Gulf Cooperation Council countries, according to a release by Mordor Intelligence, a market research firm specializing in data-driven industry insights.

“The industry has shown remarkable progress in adopting advanced manufacturing technologies and sustainable practices, particularly in response to increasing consumer demand for premium chocolate products,” the release highlighted.

The analysis, published in May, indicates that Saudi Arabia had over 1,000 chocolate-producing facilities in 2023, with Riyadh accounting for around 35 percent of these production sites.

It also notes that the country’s chocolate market is segmented by confectionery variants — dark, milk, and white chocolate — and by distribution channels, including convenience stores, online retail, supermarkets, and others.

The report highlighted that this strong manufacturing base enables the country to produce around 50 percent of its chocolate domestically, thereby reducing reliance on imports while maintaining high-quality standards.

The firm estimates the Saudi chocolate market size at $1.23 billion in 2025 and projects it to reach $1.53 billion by the end of the decade, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 4.5 percent during the forecast period from 2025 to 2030.

“The Saudi Arabia chocolate market is experiencing significant transformation driven by changing consumer demographics and preferences. With over half the population under 25 years old as of 2023, the market is heavily influenced by younger consumers who are increasingly health-conscious yet maintain strong chocolate consumption patterns,” the Mordor Intelligence study stated.

It added that this demographic shift has led to interesting consumption patterns, with “studies showing that two-thirds of Saudi children consume chocolate twice daily in 2023.”

The firm believes that consumer spending patterns in the Kingdom’s chocolate market reflect the country’s growing affluence and changing preferences.

“In 2023, the annual chocolate expenditure per person in Saudi Arabia reached $41, significantly higher than the Middle Eastern average of $4. This high per capita spending is particularly noteworthy given that over 66 percent of consumers in Saudi Arabia claimed they were willing to pay more for quality products in 2022,” the analysis said.

The study noted that the trend toward premiumization has prompted chocolate manufacturers in the Kingdom to introduce more sophisticated product lines and innovative flavor combinations.

According to Mordor Intelligence’s global chocolate market analysis, the industry is experiencing a notable shift in consumption patterns, particularly in established markets where sophisticated consumer preferences are driving product innovation.

“Europe stands as a testament to this trend, processing 35 percent of the world’s cacao and accounting for 45 percent of global chocolate consumption in 2022. Switzerland leads this consumption pattern with an impressive chocolate consumption per capita of 11 kg in 2022, setting benchmarks for premium chocolate consumption globally,” the firm said in its release.

It added that this high consumption rate has encouraged manufacturers to expand their premium product lines and experiment with new flavors and formulations.

The company further reported that global chocolate demand is rising, driven by increased per capita consumption and a strong gifting culture. It added that Europe leads consumption, accounting for nearly 48 percent of the market, with the UK and Switzerland having the highest per capita rates.