Ghana Cocoa Purchases Increase by 41% in The Seven Weeks to Nov. 18

Cocoa purchases in Ghana, the world’s second-biggest producer of the beans, rose 40.8 percent in the seven weeks to Nov. 18, according to a government official with access to the information.

Companies licensed by the Ghana Cocoa Board to purchase beans from farmers bought 376,303 metric tons during the period, compared with 267,327 tons a year earlier, the data showed. The official declined to be identified because the figures are confidential.

Purchases during the week ended Nov. 18 increased to 52,348 tons from 33,058 tons in the seventh week of the 2009-10 season. Ghana borders Ivory Coast, the world’s top producer of the chocolate ingredient.

To contact the reporter on this story: Moses Mozart Dzawu in Accra at mdzawu@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tim Smith at tsmith58@bloomberg.net