Cocoa output from the world's No. 2 grower Ghana is running 47 percent higher than last year, according to official figures on Tuesday, helping to offset export delays from neighbouring Ivory Coast.
Declared purchases by private cocoa buyers to Ghana's industry regulator Cocobod -- the best reflection of output in the West African state -- reached 765,772 tonnes by April 7 since the start of the season in October.
That is up 47 percent over the same period last year, and ahead of the full-season record of 740,000 tonnes posted in 2005-06. Cocobod is targeting a record output of 850,000 tonnes of cocoa this crop year.
High export volumes from Ghana are cushioning the blow from a prolonged shipping halt in No. 1 grower Ivory Coast, which is only now emerging from a months-long power struggle that killed thousands and displaced more than a million.
Ivorian exporters said on Tuesday a full resumption of shipments could take weeks, and clearing the backlog at the ports could take months.
There have been reports of smuggled cocoa flowing into Ghana from Ivory Coast during the conflict, but Cocobod officials have denied them, saying any such inflows could not be more than 40,000 tonnes.
Total purchases in Ghana for the 27th week of the season rose to 11,882 tonnes from 10,336 tonnes the week before, according to the data.
Ghana is seeking to ramp up its cocoa production further to 1 million tonnes by the 2012-13 season through enhanced farm husbandry, fertiliser application and farmer incentives.
Source : Reuter
