The Association of the German Confectionery Industry estimates that around 200 million of its chocolate Easter bunnies will sell worldwide in 2016 - and this is a down year.

Though they may now come in all sorts of shapes and outfits, German consumers prefer the classic bunnies, perhaps for their nostalgic value.

But more than 40 percent of the bunnies end up outside of Germany. Most find their way to other European countries. Some make it all the way to the US and Australia.

Not a bumper year

The production of sweets has been down though this year for a number of reasons.

One of them is surprising - the chairman of the Association of the German Confectionery Industry Hans Strohmaier points to warmer weather.

"Business this season was hardly restrained by wavering consumer sentiment, but instead by climate conditions." Cooler temperatures mean sweeter tooths.

Easter also comes rather early this year, shortening its shopping season.

Regardless, the few days before the holiday count most, according to Michael Griess, a sweets expert with the market research institute Nielsen. Demand during the record-setting week before Easter "spurs sales of all other sweets."

Nielsen reports that last year Germans spent an average of 5.65 euros ($6.3) per person for goods related to the holiday. That adds up to about 453 million euros ($505.5 million) in total.

jtm/hg (AFP, dpa)