Global cocoa and sugar price surges drive up Halloween confectionery costs

Rising global agricultural commodity prices are significantly increasing the cost of Halloween treats. Cocoa prices have more than doubled to approximately AUD 8,300 per tonne since February 2026, while sugar prices have risen by about 45 percent during the same period.

These price hikes are attributed to adverse weather conditions and crop diseases in major producing regions, specifically Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, which together account for roughly 60 percent of global cocoa production. Unfavorable weather in several major sugar-producing regions has also led to lower production forecasts and upward price pressure.

As these higher costs move through global supply chains, they are impacting consumer prices for chocolates and confectionery in markets such as Australia and the United Kingdom. In the UK, some popular Halloween sweets have seen price increases of nearly 40 percent over the last five years.