Domestic demand for cocoa beans is estimated to increase by 16.7 percent to 280,000 tons this year compared to 240,000 tons last year, according to Executive Secretary of the Indonesian Cocoa Association (Askindo), Firman Bakri.
Firman said that the rising demand was a result of capacity expansion made by a number of cocoa processing companies.
He cited as an example that Guan Chong Bhd will double this year the production capacity of its facility in Batam to 120,000 tons. Another firm, PT Barry Callebaut Comextra Indonesia will also start the production of its facility in Makassar, South Sulawesi, which has a capacity of 28,000 tons.
Firman said that cocoa bean production this year is expected to increase to 500,000 tons from 450,000 tons last year. “Weather is improving but unfortunately, many cocoa trees are aging to production can not rise sharply without the support of plant rehabilitation and deployment of experts to improve cultivation technique,” he said. (rei)
