Demand for Australian home-grown chocolate expands with global supply chains held tight

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Australian cocoa industry is on the verge of a massive expansion with surging demand for quality home- grown chocolate. Global supply remains tight, and Queensland producers are looking to capitalise on a gap in the market.

Transcript

00:00These homegrown cocoa beans have become a hot commodity.

00:06They're a key ingredient in premium Australian chocolate and demand has never been higher.

00:12I've actually got a waiting list of people wanting to buy Australian cocoa beans

00:16and we just don't have enough to supply them.

00:19As global cocoa supply drops, the price has skyrocketed

00:23and Australian made chocolate now has a competitive price tag.

00:27We have the demand and that's not just in Australia.

00:30We do get inquiries from overseas now that we're becoming a bit more well known.

00:34Grown exclusively in far north Queensland,

00:37domestic cocoa production typically supplies a small, boutique local market.

00:42Farmers are now rushing to plant more trees.

00:46We just don't have enough beans. It's as simple as that.

00:49So we're furiously trying to do the things that are necessary to expand.

00:54In Europe, a new trade agreement set to come into effect later this year

00:58could see demand for Australian grown cocoa increase even further.

01:03Effectively the outline of the agreement is that any cocoa or other commodities

01:08which have come from deforestated land after 2020

01:12will effectively not be allowed to be imported into the European blocs.

01:16Putting the Australian product in a favourable position.

01:19Deforestation to grow cocoa in Australia doesn't happen.

01:23So right from the get go we've got a significant advantage in the compliance

01:29especially into the European market.

01:31A sweet opportunity for Northern producers.

01:33A sweet opportunity for Northern producers.

01:35D42 oZini.

01:45I have a good view of the referendum that uh 2019

01:49will appear more at mid Gomez times a sample in 2 and a year.

01:51Should then anders then we'll go over to the spinach and our'e data set in the background.

01:54To be clear around Andrew сл Trail Road and Dr. Saracan,

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