Chocolate Crisis in US: Cocoa Shortage and Tariffs Send Prices Soaring

Chocolate prices in the US are rising sharply due to a global cocoa shortage and new tariffs on imports introduced by President Donald Trump.

Climate-related disasters in West Africa, where 70% of cocoa is grown, have slashed production, sending cocoa prices soaring from around $2,000 to over $12,000 per ton.

Major companies like Hershey have raised prices but are losing consumer demand, while smaller chocolate makers are struggling to survive.

President Trump’s tariffs are expected to worsen the crisis, as cocoa can’t be grown widely in the US, and other factors like packaging and shipping costs are also climbing.