What this market covers
Vegan confectionery covers sweets, gums and chocolate made without milk, gelatin or other animal products. Buyers are vegan and health minded consumers, retailers and cafes.
Typical segments
- Vegan chocolate
- Gummies and jellies
- Vegan caramels
- Hard candies
Source: Eurostat
Why this market is moving now
- Extra-EU import value moved +119% from 2020 to 2025, a direct read on EU demand for sourced supply.
- Supply is concentrated: one country provided a large share of extra-EU imports in 2025.
- US employment in the core industry shifted +30% since 2020.
Key figures
Each figure names the source it came from. Open the source list below to read the quoted line.
| Figure | Value | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| The EU imported €217.5 million of products under CN code 17049065 (Gum and jelly confectionery, incl. fruit pastes in the form of sugar confectionery) from outside the EU in 2025. | 217.5 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Extra-EU imports of CN 17049065 were up 119% in 2025 compared with 2020 (€99.2 million), calculated from Eurostat values. | +119 % change | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 17049065 to countries outside the EU were worth €950.4 million in 2025. | 950.4 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Trade between EU member states in CN 17049065 (intra-EU arrivals) came to €1.78 billion in 2025. | 1.78 EUR billion | 2025 | Eurostat |
| United Kingdom was the largest non-EU supplier of CN 17049065 to the EU in 2025, with €55.3 million, or 25% of extra-EU imports. | 55.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| EU exports of CN 17049065 to the United States were €218.3 million in 2025. | 218.3 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The average value of extra-EU imports of CN 17049065 was €3.55 per kilogram in 2025, calculated from Eurostat value and weight. | 3.55 EUR per kg | 2025 | Eurostat |
| Germany was the largest EU exporter of CN 17049065 to non-EU countries in 2025, at €282.9 million. | 282.9 EUR million | 2025 | Eurostat |
| The EU had 7,148 enterprises in NACE class C1082 (Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery) in 2023. | 7,148 enterprises | 2023 | Eurostat |
| EU enterprises in NACE class C1082 had net turnover of €60.00 billion in 2023. | 60.00 EUR billion | 2023 | Eurostat |
| NACE class C1082 employed 178,089 people across the EU in 2023. | 178,089 persons employed | 2023 | Eurostat |
| The US had 740 private establishments in NAICS 311340 (Nonchocolate confectionery manufacturing) in 2025. | 740 establishments | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| NAICS 311340 employed an average of 27,776 people in US private industry in 2025. | 27,776 jobs | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| US employment in NAICS 311340 changed by +30% between 2020 (21,412 jobs) and 2025, calculated from BLS figures. | +30 % change | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
| Average annual pay in US NAICS 311340 was $72,546 in 2025. | 72,546 USD per year | 2025 | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics |
Sources and method
The figures on this page come from the public sources listed below. Read how we work.
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 1
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17049065, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 217493208
- Figure 2
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17049065, flow import, 2020 VALUE_IN_EUROS 99209864; 2025 VALUE_IN_EUROS 217493208
- Figure 3
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17049065, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 950407568
- Figure 4
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17049065, partner INT_EU27_2020, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 1776733864
- Figure 5
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17049065, partner GB, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 55331876
- Figure 6
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17049065, partner US, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 218326262
- Figure 7
DS-045409, reporter EU27_2020, product 17049065, flow import, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 217493208, QUANTITY_IN_100KG 612790
- Figure 1
- Eurostat: EU trade since 1988 by HS2-4-6 and CN8 (DS-045409) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 8
DS-045409, reporter DE, product 17049065, partner EXT_EU27_2020, flow export, 2025, VALUE_IN_EUROS 282936340
- Figure 8
- Eurostat: Enterprises by detailed NACE Rev. 2 activity and special aggregates (sbs_ovw_act) (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 9
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1082, indic_sbs ENT_NR, 2023, 7148
- Figure 10
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1082, indic_sbs NETTUR_MEUR, 2023, 60000
- Figure 11
sbs_ovw_act, geo EU27_2020, nace_r2 C1082, indic_sbs EMP_NR, 2023, 178089
- Figure 9
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: QCEW annual averages, NAICS 311340, 2025 (2026-11-04)
Quoted lines
- Figure 12
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311340, annual_avg_estabs 740
- Figure 13
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311340, annual_avg_emplvl 27776
- Figure 14
QCEW 2020 annual_avg_emplvl 21412; 2025 annual_avg_emplvl 27776
- Figure 15
QCEW 2025 annual, US000, private, NAICS 311340, avg_annual_pay 72546
- Figure 12
Buyers and suppliers
Who buys
- Supermarkets
- Health food stores
- Online shoppers
Large non-EU suppliers to the EU
What the full report covers
- 01Executive summary
The answer in one page: size, direction and what moves it - 02Market definition and scope
What is in and out of the European Union market - 03Market size, 2021 to 2025
Historical series and growth rates - 04Outlook to 2031
Base, low and high scenarios with stated assumptions - 05Rules, policy and deadlines
Regulation and programmes that change demand - 06Drivers and barriers
What accelerates or slows adoption, by customer segment - 07Prices, costs and margins
Unit economics where public data allows - 08Competitive landscape
8 to 12 company profiles with recent moves - 09Opportunities and risks
For new entrants, suppliers and investors - 10Method and sources
Every assumption and source, listed
Included with the full report
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- Method note and assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
How big is the EU vegan confectionery market?
There is no single official market total. Eurostat trade data shows the EU imported €217.5 million of goods under CN 17049065 from outside the EU in 2025 and exported €950.4 million.
Where does the EU import vegan confectionery from?
United Kingdom was the largest non-EU supplier in 2025. Other large suppliers included China, Türkiye, Ukraine.
What is the average import price of vegan confectionery in the EU?
Dividing Eurostat import value by weight gives about €3.55 per kilogram for CN 17049065 in 2025.
Which EU countries export the most vegan confectionery?
Germany led EU exports to non-EU countries in 2025, followed by Spain, Czechia.
How many US companies are in the vegan confectionery industry?
BLS counts 740 private establishments in NAICS 311340 (Nonchocolate confectionery manufacturing), the closest official industry.
How many EU companies are in the vegan confectionery industry?
Eurostat counts 7,148 enterprises in NACE class C1082 (Manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery).
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