RIYADH — The volume of Saudi Arabia's imports of cocoa during the first quarter of 2023 has reached 37,080,007 kilograms. The Kingdom's import of cocoa amounted to 127,141,853 kilograms in 2022, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoting the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA). The sweets and chocolate market is witnessing an active movement in the current period to cover the huge demand, and to meet the needs of all different tastes through the multiplicity of local and imported products. This is due to the approach of Eid Al-Fitr, where buying sweets in various forms is one of the manifestations of Eid celebration. The stores and market also start to compete in displaying all different kinds of imported and locally manufactured sweets and chocolate. The owners are always keen to provide all kinds of sweets and modern designs to win all the tastes of consumers and customers of all ages. Regarding the prices, most stores start announcing discounts during the Eid period, as the prices of the local sweets ranges between SR20-SR150 and vary between candies, toffee, biscuits and chocolate in all their forms, SPA said. It explained that the price determination is due to the abundance of sweets and relatively low-cost wages. While the price of sweets imported from European and Eastern countries is increasing, where the price per kilogram reaches SR300 for the pure and dark chocolate, and the ones containing special fillings. It is noteworthy that the price of chocolate does not only depend on its type and country of origin, but also includes the packaging side of the chocolate, and the dishes that the sweets are placed inside it. The dishes vary between earthenware, glass, or wooden containers, and plastic boxes.
