Chinese get a taste for Swiss chocolate

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

GENEVA (AFP) — As Beijing celebrates the glory of its Olympic year, new figures released Friday suggest that China's chocoholics are developing a serious penchant for luxury Swiss bars.

Swiss chocolate-makers association Chocosuisse revealed that exports of chocolate from Switzerland had soared from just 10 tonnes six years ago to well over 300 tonnes in 2007.

In the first half of 2008, exports to China grew a further 27 percent in volume and 47 percent in value, Franz Schmid, director of Chocosuisse, told Swiss news agency ATS.

In six years, China has climbed from 100th to 34th in terms of the biggest export markets for Swiss chocolate.

During that period, the value of chocolate exports to China reached 2.11 million Swiss francs (1.3 million euros)...