Decoding the "bitterness and sweetness" of imported dark chocolate

It is estimated that the global dark chocolate market will exceed $42 billion by 2025, with China maintaining an annual growth rate of 15%. Facing strong market demand, importers often encounter challenges such as difficulty in tracing the origin of raw materials, complex tariff calculations, and frequent quality disputes. This article will break down the key control points from a practical perspective.

Four-Dimensional Evaluation System for Supplier Selection

• Verification of qualification compliance
  • Manufacturer's FDA registration certificate (new allergen labeling requirements added in 2025)
  • The HACCP certification covers more than 70% of the production processes.
  • Origin CertificateVerify the compatibility between the design and the processing procedures
• Quality control capability
  • Cocoa solids content detection report (need to distinguish between different tariff codes of ≥50%/≥70%)
  • Self-inspection frequency for heavy metal residues (it is recommended to conduct batch sampling inspections monthly)
  • Moisture-proof packaging patent technology certification

Three major risk points in customs clearance practice

In 2025, the General Administration of Customs implemented new classification rules for food-grade cocoa products:

• Determination of ingredient proportion
  • Products with a sucrose content of ≤5% can apply for the health food channel.
  • For products with a fat content of ≥12%, an additional proof of milk source must be provided.
• Strengthening the certification of products' origin
  • Western African production areas are required to provide GPS positioning records of cocoa bean cultivation.
  • The EU requires that processed products be accompanied by a certificate of the organic conversion period.

Logistics Solution Cost Optimization Model

• Choice of Transportation Modes
  • Maritime transportA 20-foot container can hold 12 tons (with a temperature-controlled cost of $1,800 per container).
  • Air freightThe emergency order premium rate should be controlled within 35%.
• Tariff planning strategies
  • Using the cumulative rules of the RCEP to reduce the import tax rate by 3.8%
  • Import in batches to avoid the risk of inspection at the single window

Prevention Mechanism for Quality Disputes

According to common claim cases in 2025, 58% of the problems stem from the transportation process:

• Establishment of Inspection Standards
  • Establish a grading standard for the tolerance of cocoa butter precipitation
  • Establish a reference line for detecting the colorimetric value L*ab
• Claims provisions setting
  • Agreement on the compensation mechanism for deviations from the constant temperature of 25℃ during transportation
  • Setting a tiered compensation ratio for product damage

Practical case: A trading company optimizes its business process

By using the supplier qualification pre-review system, the screening period can be shortened by 40%. Additionally, we adopt the following measures:China-Europe Railway ExpressThe temperature-controlled containers reduce logistics costs by 17% and, in conjunction with the AEO certification from the customs, enable rapid customs clearance within 72 hours. In the first half of 2025, the import volume increased by 210% year-on-year, and the customer complaint rate dropped to 0.3%.

Choose professionalImport Agent ServicesWhen selecting a service provider, particular attention should be paid to their experience in food category operations, their ability to interface with customs data, and their speed in responding to crises. It is recommended to establish a three-tier management system consisting of a quarterly supplier evaluation form, a monthly customs clearance efficiency analysis report, and an annual cost structure optimization plan, in order to ensure the sustainable and healthy development of the black chocolate import business.