ABIDJAN, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's cocoa grind

fell 0.2% year-on-year in December to 62,547 metric tons, data

from exporter association GEPEX showed on Thursday.

The total grind from the start of the 2024/25 season in

October stood at 182,324 tons of beans by the end of December,

up around 1% from the same point last season.

The GEPEX data covers six of the largest grinding companies,

including Barry Callebaut, Olam and Cargill

Inc.

Ivory Coast has a total grinding capacity of 712,000 tons.

It is the world's top cocoa producer and vies with the

Netherlands as the leading grinder.