In 2016, Belgium exported 250,000 tons of chocolate and chocolate bars, ranking it on the 3rd step of the European podium, behind Germany (540,000 tons) and the Netherlands (270,000 tons). The figures were released on Friday by Eurostat, the European statistical office.

In total, the EU member states exported some 2 million tonnes of chocolate last year. At the same time, the EU imported 1.7 million tonnes of cocoa beans, most of which came from Africa, including the Ivory Coast (720,000 tonnes exported to the European Union), Ghana (340,000 tonnes ) and Cameroon (140,000 tons), adds Eurostat.

Christopher Vincent

The Brussels Times