World's Seventh-Largest Cocoa Producer, Indonesia Remains an Importer

October 23, 2025 | 01:07 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia imported 157,000 tons of cocoa beans in 2024 to meet the needs of the domestic processing industry, according to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs.

“This is a concern for us because Indonesia ranks seventh among the world’s largest cocoa producers,” said Widiastuti, Deputy for Coordination of Food and Agriculture Business at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, during a discussion at the Pullman Hotel, Jakarta, on Thursday, October 23, 2025.

Citing data from the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), Widiastuti said Indonesia’s cocoa production in 2025 reached around 200,000 tons per year, a sharp decline compared with 590,000 tons recorded in 2005–2006.

She explained that this drop in output has forced Indonesia to import cocoa beans to meet the raw material needs of its domestic grinding industry.

Meanwhile, global cocoa prices have surged in recent years. Since 2023, prices have jumped from around US$2,500 per ton to as high as US$11,000 per ton. Currently, prices range between US$7,000 and US$8,000 per ton.

“Hopefully, we can continue to increase it to US$11,000 per ton,” Widiastuti said.

However, she noted that Indonesia has not benefited significantly from the global price rally due to stagnant production. The surge in prices, she added, was mainly triggered by declining cocoa output in Africa.

“This is both an opportunity and a challenge,” she said.

Widiastuti emphasized the need to restore Indonesia’s former strength in cocoa production and to prepare for future challenges in the sector.

She also highlighted several issues hampering domestic cocoa output, including climate change, pest infestations, crop diseases, and aging trees.

“These are concerns that may not have received enough attention or discussion,” she remarked.

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