Cocoa processors in Europe ground 348,215 tonnes of cocoa beans in the third quarter of 2026, up 3.2% from 337,353 tonnes a year earlier, according to figures published by the European Cocoa Association (ECA) on 15 October. The ECA’s quarterly comparison table shows it is the first year-on-year increase in any quarter since the second quarter of 2024, and the first third-quarter rise since 2021.

The publication measures processed beans, meaning beans ground and expelled. It covered 19 participants in the third quarter, each reporting its total group bean usage, and the data are compiled by StatSer (Statistic Services) of Leusden in the Netherlands. The ECA does not break the total down by company or country and does not give reasons for the change.

Still down for the year

The third-quarter gain followed two weaker quarters. First-quarter grindings were 325,895 tonnes, 92.2% of the year-earlier level, and second-quarter grindings were 316,366 tonnes, 95.4% of the 2025 figure. For January to September, European processors ground 990,476 tonnes, which the ECA puts at 96.9% of the same period in 2025.

The 12-month total to the end of September stood at 1,294,946 tonnes. That is below every calendar-year total in the ECA table, which runs back to 2016. The lowest of those is 1,327,107 tonnes for 2025 and the highest is 1,466,835 tonnes for 2022.

ADM Investor Services described the year-to-date total as the lowest since 2015 and said European grinding has been trending lower over the past decade because of the expansion of processing in Ivory Coast. It said market watchers polled by Bloomberg had expected lower European grindings and little change in North America before the release.

Asia grows faster

ADM Investor Services also reported Asian third-quarter grindings of 233,767 tonnes, up 29.2% from a year earlier, which it said was the second consecutive quarter of growth above 25% and the highest for any quarter in records going back to at least 2012. It reported German third-quarter grindings of 98,274 tonnes, up 3.6%, and, citing Bloomberg, said Ivory Coast exporter group Gepex processed 157,446 tonnes in the quarter, up 40.3% from 112,242 tonnes. F&B Today did not review the primary releases for Asia, Germany or North America, and North American figures are not included here.

Who is in the data

The ECA lists Barry Callebaut, Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate, Cemoi, Ecom/Dutch Cocoa, Natra Cacao, Nessentis and OFI Cocoa as its grinding members. Bean processors named in the publication include August Storck, Ferrero, Mondelēz International and Nestlé. The association’s next update is due in January 2027.

F&B Today’s reading

  • Analysis, for chocolate and confectionery makers: a first year-on-year rise in European grindings since mid-2024 suggests processors are again buying beans to meet more orders for cocoa liquor, butter and powder. One quarter does not reverse the trend, though: the year-to-date and 12-month totals are both below 2025 levels.
  • Analysis, for UK and Indian buyers: for makers that buy semi-finished cocoa products from European grinders, a pickup in processing could ease availability. Buyers setting 2027 contracts should check the fourth-quarter figures in January before assuming the recovery holds.
  • Analysis, on Asia: the faster growth reported for Asian processing means more cocoa activity closer to Indian buyers, which may widen sourcing options for cocoa butter and powder.