Despite the ongoing financial crisis in Europe, the Indonesian Cocoa Association (Askindo) projected the country’s cocoa export this year to increase to 250,000 tons from 200,000 tons last year.
Secretary General of Askindo, Dakhri Sanusi said on Thursday that demand from Europe, Indonesia’s largest cocoa export market, is expected to remain buoyant this year.
Askindo forecast cocoa production in the world’s third largest producer to increase to between 500-550,000 tons this year, from the estimated 450,000 tons last year.
Dakhir said that the crisis in Europe has yet to cause serious negative impact on the country’s cocoa export, although cocoa price has gone down from US$3,500 to around $2,300-$2,400 per ton currently. He forecast cocoa price this year to slightly rise to around $2,500 per ton. (rei)
