Chocolate Easter bunnies may take a hit from supply-chain issues, German confectioners say

Tight supplies of commodities including sugar and cocoa, plus global logistics problems could hit production of chocolate Easter bunnies, Germany's confectioners warned on Thursday.

"The market for important raw materials has been swept empty, longtime logistics chains no longer function," said Carsten Bernoth, chief executive of the German confectionery producers association (BDSI) in a statement.

"This could also have an impact on the upcoming Easter business such as production of chocolate rabbits because important raw materials, packing materials or transport capacity are lacking."

High costs,demand having impact

He said chocolate makers are suffering from high world commodity prices for products includingwheat, sugar, milk powder, sunflower oil and soy oil.

Poor harvests in some regions coupled with heavy demand for commodities from industry in Asia haspushed prices higher. The recent surge in energy costs with a doubling of electricity prices was also impacting theGerman industry, according to Bernoth.

Rising costs for global container shipping are also an increasing burden.

But Germany's confectionery industry was able to increase 2021 production, including of salty snacks, by 1.3 per cent to an estimated 3.9 million tonnes despite pandemic lockdowns of shops and restaurants which squeezed sales.

The country's output of chocolate products in 2021 rose by 2.7 per cent to around 1.2 million tonnes, and the value increased by 5.4 per cent to about 5.9 billion euros (more than $8.3 billion Cdn).