Cameroon Processes More Cocoa Beans in 2012-2013 Season

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.

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