By Emmanuel Tumanjong
Special to DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
YAOUNDE, Cameroon--Cameroon's two local cocoa bean grinders
bought more beans in the first two months of this season than they
did in the same months last season, the National Cocoa and Coffee
Board said Friday.
The grinders bought 6,811 metric tons of beans in August and
September, slightly down on the 6,619 tons they purchased in the
same months last season, according to the NCCB figures.
Sic Cacao, the Cameroon affiliate of Switzerland-based Barry
Callebaut AG (BARN.EB) and Chococam, whose majority stakes are
owned by South Africa's Tiger Brands Ltd.(TBS.JO) are the main
cocoa beans processors in Cameroon.
In September, 4,864 tons were crushed, up from 4,057 tons in the
same month last season. Sic Cacao bought 4,669 tons and Chococam
bought the remaining 196 tons. In September last season Sic Cacao
bought all the 4,057 tons purchased.
Chocolate, cocoa powder, cocoa cake and liquor produced by Sic
Cacao and Chococam are marketed mainly in the European Union,
Cameroon and its five neighboring countries in the Economic
Community of Central African States.
The grindings in Cameroon, the world's fifth largest cocoa
producer, were 32,804 tons last season, up from 32,019 tons
processed in 2011-2012.
Write to Emmanuel Tumanjong at
realtimedesklondon@dowjones.com
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