Production of chocolate drops almost 10% in the first quarter of this year

The Brazilian production of chocolates fell 9.97 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2014. The thread back up in the first three months of the year from 2012, at least. In 2015, however, the fall was the sharpest ever recorded by Abicab (Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Chocolate, cocoa, peanuts, hard candies and derivatives). In 2013 and 2014, the retractions were 2.11% and 3.49%, respectively.
"The industry had been growing double digits annually until 2010, then maintained a level of stability and now, in 2014, we had this fall," says Dan Franck, Vice President of the entity. "The quarter was very cruel, with increased inflation, dollar, fuel, taxes and political problems," he adds. "These barriers have led to demonstrations, creating a climate of instability". The Executive claims that there may be a slight recovery from the second quarter. Even so, the result of the year is expected to be negative, but with a smaller fall than that seen in the first three months.
The entity has no information about layoffs in the sector. For Easter, however, companies have risen 10% in the number of temporary workers.
The increase can be explained in part due to an increase in the number of stores, which demanded more sales promoters.