Cameroon Cocoa Processing Off to A Slightly Busier Start This Season --NCCB

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

[e-mail]

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires