MCB targets cocoa export value to increase this year

BAGAN DATUK: The Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) expects cocoa export value in 2017 to surpass the RM5.8 billion recorded last year.

Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister, Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, said the cocoa industry was the fourth biggest contributor to the main commodity export value last year, after oil palm, rubber and timber, having increased by 14 per cent to RM5.74 billion from RM5.02 billion recorded in 2015.

“Although the cocoa industry has been facing numerous challenges, especially in the decreasing plantation area and yield, we have been able to increase export revenue through MCB’s continuous efforts.

“The main contributors to the cocoa export revenue were its downstream products, such as cocoa fat and cocoa powder, contributing RM3.4 billion or 58.9 per cent of the total export value,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the Cocoa Team (C-Team) 2.0 three-day workshop, attended by close to 100 participants.

During the event, Datu Nasrun, together with MCB Director-General, Datin Norhaini Udin, and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Director, Datuk Nooraziah Abd Manaf, also witnessed MCB’s anti-corruption pledge by Division Directors and Centre Managers at the Cocoa Research and Development Centre here, yesterday.