Australians will continue to pay high prices for smaller and less-concentrated chocolate snacks despite some near-term relief, according to a new report.

Chocolate lovers around the world can expect lower prices ahead as cocoa futures ease from historic highs, but blocks, bars and bites likely remain above pre-"cocoa-crisis" levels, Rabobank research found.

Since 2021, poor harvests, crop disease and structural supply issues have lit a match under global chocolate costs, prompting manufacturers to employ "shrinkflation" or "skimpflation" tactics to manage margins, RaboReserach agriculture analyst Paul Joules said.

"Shrinkflation involves reducing pack sizes, while skimpflation changes recipes to lower cocoa content, often replacing cocoa butter with cheaper fats or fillers," he said.

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