JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – US-based Cargill is now building cocoa processing plant in Gresik, East Java, with investment cost of US$100 million.
The plant, with capacity of 70,000 tons per year, will produce cocoa butter, liquor, and powder. The plant is targeted to commence operation in mid of 2014.
Media earlier reported two investors from Singapore and Dutch plans to build cocoa processing plant in Indonesia which costs US$120 million, equivalent Rp1.38 trillion.
Piter Jasman, chairman of Indonesian Cocoa Industry Association (AIKI), said that 2 investors are now studying the supply capacity of raw material in Indonesia.
Currently, the national cocoa beans production reaches 480,000 tons per year with a total 14 producers, among others PT Cargill Indonesia and PT Barry Callebaout Comextra Indonesia.