By Emmanuel Tumanjong
Special to DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
AMBAM, Cameroon--Cameroon processed 32,019 metric tons of cocoa
beans during the just-ended 2012-2013 season, up from 29,924 tons
in the previous season, the National Cocoa and Coffee Board said
Friday.
Cameroon's cocoa season runs from August through July.
The Cameroon affiliate of Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut AG
(BARN.EB), and Chococam, which is majority owned by South Africa's
Tiger Brands Ltd. (TBS.JO), are the local cocoa grinders. Barry
Callebaut is represented locally by Societe Industrielle
Camerounaise, or Sic Cacao SA, which is 70% owned by the Swiss firm
and 30% by the Cameroon government.
NCCB said Sic Cacao and Chococam bought a total of 31,969 tons
of cocoa beans for processing. Six other parties bought 50 tons of
beans for grinding and processing.
Chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa cake and liquor produced by Sic
Cacao is marketed mainly in Cameroon and its five neighboring
countries in the Economic Community of Central African States.
Write to Emmanuel Tumanjong at
realtimedesklondon@dowjones.com
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