Cocoa Exports Rise

Accra (GAR), July 3, Ghana exported 338,500 tonnes of cocoa beans last year compared to 237,300 tonnes in 1995. During the same period, 51,400 tonnes of cocoa products were exported as against 13,900 tonnes in 1995, according to statistics from the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Accra today. Mr. John Newman, Chief Executive of the Cocobod, told GRi that "these figures will rise to about 350,000 tonnes this year". He said the value of cocoa exports nearly matched that of gold. Cocoa exports were valued at 568.2 million dollars with gold at 582.9 million dollars. Ghana is the second largest cocoa producer after Cote d' Ivoire. Mr. Newman said about 35 per cent of the 1995-1996 cocoa production went to the United Kingdom. The Netherlands and Germany had 12 per cent each while Japan had 11 per cent with six per cent going to the United States. According to Mr. Newman, chocolate manufacturers say they cannot afford to use 100 per cent Ghanaian cocoa beans because it is very expensive. "Our product has carved a niche on the world market, and we do not have any problem selling it. This is because Ghanaian farmers have a unique way of producing cocoa thus making it extraordinary. Mr. Newman noted that the only way to develop the sector is to increase the processing of cocoa beans. At the moment Ghana is processing only 20 per cent of its yield. He said if this is increased between 30 or 40 per cent, it will be in the nation's interest as we will be adding value to the cocoa bean. Mr. Newman said in this regard, the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) installed new machinery last year and processed 16,680 tones of beans making a profit of over 10 billion cedis. Short term loans are being used to buy new machinery and production of finished chocolate products has increased. Mr. Newman said CPC forecasts profits this year of about nine billion cedis. Statistics at the end of the first quarter show that profits have already reached almost three billion cedis. Under CPC's five-year capacity boosting programme production would rise from 20,000 tonnes to 25,000 tonnes.