Europe, Most Profitable Cocoa Market

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian ambassador for the European Union, Belgium, and Luxemburg, Arif Hafas Oegroseno, said Europe would be the most profitable market for Indonesian cocoa.

"Their cocoa consumption is the largest and the most stable in the world," he said at a discussion hosted by the Association of Indonesian Regency Administrations (Apkasi) at Jakarta International Expo yesterday.

Arif said the E.U. has a single regulation to govern trades of its 28 state members. As well as a large food importer, the E.U. is also a home for 505 million residents with US$30,000 per capita income.

"100 percent of their cocoa demand is supplied by imports," Arif said.

Arif said E.U. annual chocolate consumption is 11 kilograms per capita. In Asia, the average annual cocoa consumption is one kilogram per capita.

The Ivory Coast is the largest cocoa exporter to Europe, followed by Ghana and Indonesia. Malaysia and Brazil are included in the list.

Although the potential is huge, the competition in cocoa market is stiff. In addition, the E.U. enforces strict policies for cocoa imports.

"They are willing to spend a lot of money to buy high-quality products," said Arif.

PINGIT ARIA