European Cocoa Grindings Fall Sharply in Q2 2026 as Demand Remains Under Pressure
The European Cocoa Association (ECA) reported that European cocoa grindings totaled 316,366 tonnes in Q2 2026, representing a 4.6% year-on-year decline compared with 331,762 tonnes in Q2 2025. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, grindings also fell by 2.9% from 325,895 tonnes processed in Q1 2026, indicating that cocoa processing activity continued to weaken during the second quarter. This marks the second consecutive quarterly contraction in 2026 and highlights the continued challenges facing the European cocoa processing industry despite expectations that improving bean availability would support a stronger recovery.
During the first half of the year, cumulative grindings reached 642,261 tonnes, down 7.8% from 696,417 tonnes during the same period last year. The year-to-date figure corresponds to 92.2% of the previous year's volume, reflecting a significant slowdown in cocoa bean processing across Europe.
A Multi-Year Low
The first-half total of 642,261 tonnes is the lowest January–June grinding volume recorded since the pandemic-affected period and represents one of the weakest performances of the past decade.
The rolling 12-month total has now declined to 1.284 million tonnes, compared with 1.327 million tonnes a year earlier, confirming that the downturn is not limited to a single quarter but reflects a broader weakening trend.
Key Figures
| Metric | Q2 2026 | Q2 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterly grindings | 316,366 t | 331,762 t | -4.6% |
| H1 (YTD) grindings | 642,261 t | 696,417 t | -7.8% |
| Rolling 12-month total | 1,284,084 t | 1,327,107 t | -3.2% |
Cocoa Intel
