Indonesia becomes Asia's cocoa processing leader with 49 percent share

Photo caption: Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's cocoa processing industry has strengthened its position as a leading player in Asia, accounting for 49 percent of the region's total cocoa grinding volume while reinforcing the country's role in global trade.

Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita reaffirmed the government's commitment to advancing downstreaming efforts aimed at transforming Indonesia into a major global cocoa processing hub.

"The ministry continues to accelerate the transformation of the cocoa industry by strengthening downstreaming, enhancing human resource capacity, developing partnerships between farmers and industry, implementing quality standards, and accelerating the adoption of sustainability principles," Agus said in a statement on Friday.

According to Grind Statistics for the second quarter of 2026, Indonesia's cocoa processing volume reached 110,410 tons, representing a 30.1 percent increase from 84,844 tons recorded in the first quarter.

The positive trend was also reflected in an 8.2 percent quarter-on-quarter increase in total processed cocoa production, demonstrating resilience amid global price volatility, shifting demand patterns, and evolving international sustainability standards.

Agus emphasized that the achievement strengthens Indonesia's position as a strategic cocoa processing center and a key partner in the global supply chain.

The strategic vision was highlighted at the 2026 Indonesia International Cocoa Conference (IICC), held from July 22–24 in Yogyakarta, according to Industry Ministry Acting Director General of Agro-Industry Putu Juli Ardika.

Held under the theme "The Rise of Indonesian Cocoa: The Pearl of Asia for the World," the conference reaffirmed Indonesia's goal of moving beyond raw cocoa production toward a high-value processing industry that meets global sustainability standards while supporting local farmers.