Fire hits Ivory Coast cocoa factory

24 June 1998

Fire hits Ivory Coast cocoa factory

THE Ivory Coasts second largest cocoa factory, UNICAO, was expected to restart production yesterday (Tuesday) after fire destroyed 800 tonnes of cocoa products earlier in the week.

Yves Lamblin, president of Sifca, UNICAOs majority owner, estimated Ivory Coast 1997-98 cocoa products output would be 220,000 tonnes, compared with 205,000 tonnes estimated by London trader ED&F Man in May.

This years middle crop has been plagued by small bean sizes. Harvests are expected to fall from July until the next main crop (October-April), leaving some exporters short of export grade stock.

• Financial Times 24/06/98 page 30