Cocoa bean exports from Indonesia's main growing area in the south of Sulawesi island fell 6.33 percent to 17,025 tonnes in August. Exports for January-August dropped 10 percent to 116,957 tonnes, according to data from the Indonesian Cocoa Association.
Indonesia is the world's third-largest cocoa producer, after the Ivory Coast and Ghana, and Sulawesi accounts for 75 percent of the country's output. The cocoa beans are sold via Makassar port in the south of Sulawesi.
In 2004, exports from Sulawesi rose 4 percent to 181,524 tonnes, helped by newly cultivated areas in central Sulawesi.
Industry officials have said exports from Sulawesi could fall by 6 percent to between 170,000-175,000 tonnes this year due to unfavourable weather and rampant pests.
Cocoa beans are sold to grinders for processing into butter and cake, which is later pressed into powder for making chocolate, cakes, beverages and ice cream.
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