By Ronnie Harui
Asia's cocoa-bean grindings rose 4.09% in the first quarter from the same period a year earlier, according to figures released Thursday by the Cocoa Association of Asia.
Cocoa grindings for the quarter totaled 222,028 metric tons, compared with 213,313 tons a year earlier, the figures showed. On a quarterly basis, cocoa grindings fell 3.80% from the previous quarter.
Cocoa grindings--the volume of cocoa beans processed into the butters and powders used to make chocolate--are often taken as a proxy for cocoa demand.
The CAA is a trade association that groups the major companies involved in cocoa bean trade and processing, warehousing and related logistical activities in the region.
Write to Ronnie Harui at ronnie.harui@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
04-20-23 0523ET