ABIDJAN, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's cocoa grind

fell 14.2% year on year in September to 54,984 metric tons, data

from exporter association GEPEX showed on Thursday.

The total grind from the start of the 2023/24 season in

October stood at 642,515 tons of beans by the end of September,

down 13.1% 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 total grinding capacity of 712,000 tons. It

is the world's biggest cocoa producer and vies with the

Netherlands as the leading grinder.

(Reporting by Ange Aboa

Editing by Anait Miridzhanian and David Goodman

)