Mondelez Shares Plummet 6.61% as $1.45 Billion Volume Surge Ranks 56th Amid North American Demand Slump and Cocoa Challenges

Mondelez International (MDLZ) closed on July 30, 2025, with a 6.61% decline, trading at $X.XX, as its Q2 earnings call highlighted persistent challenges in North America. The stock saw a 163.18% surge in trading volume to $1.45 billion, ranking 56th in market activity. Key concerns included soft biscuit demand (-3% volume decline in North America) and ongoing retailer destocking, while global chocolate volumes fell 6-7% amid elevated cocoa prices and heatwave-driven demand shifts in Europe.

Management emphasized emerging markets as a growth engine, with double-digit volume expansion in Brazil, India, and Mexico offsetting North American weakness. Strategic pricing actions, including "surgical" price increases in North America and Europe, aim to counter input cost pressures, particularly cocoa. The company also plans to boost media investment in 2026 to support brand resilience in price-sensitive categories.

CFO Luca Zaramella noted cocoa fundamentals are improving, with grinding volumes down 7-8% and supply chain optimism for the 2026 crop. However, near-term volatility remains due to unpredictable factors like weather and economic sentiment. Share repurchases continue under a $9 billion authorization, with recent buys averaging below $60 per share.

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