Easter chocolates: despite the drop in cocoa prices, cheaper bunnies are still waiting

According to the article, the price of cocoa has corrected spectacularly after the records of 2024–2025. It peaked at around $10,000-$11,000 per ton in the spring and summer of 2025, then fell to around $3,000-$3.5,000 by early 2026, a nearly 70% drop from its peak. Several factors are behind the turnaround: improved production prospects in West Africa, the easing of the previous shortage panic, and the fact that some speculative capital closed its positions with the change in outlook.

However, producer and commercial prices do not immediately follow stock market movements. Gábor Intődy told Index that a significant number of chocolate manufacturers work with long-term purchasing contracts and pre-determined stocks, which is why the Easter products available now – chocolate bunnies, eggs, seasonally packaged sweets – were typically made months earlier, when the price of cocoa was much higher. Both retailers and manufacturers try to avoid frequent price tag changes, so any potential price reductions often first appear in practice in sales and promotions, not as permanent list price reductions.

The expert also pointed out that the price of chocolate is not determined only by cocoa. Energy, transport and labour costs, as well as taxes and fees, may continue to keep the cost side high, so the fact that cocoa becomes cheaper does not in itself mean an automatic and spectacular price drop for the final product.

Meanwhile, at the consumer level, various producer reactions may appear: in addition to the classic price increase, shrinkflation also occurs on the market, although according to Intődy this is limited by customer sensitivity, because if customers feel the product is a “bad deal”, they can easily switch to another brand or category.

Overall: the message of the cocoa price drop will not be visible at the checkout during the Easter period. This season’s chocolates were mainly made in the previous, more expensive purchasing environment, and a substantial price correction – if it comes – may appear on the market later, gradually.