ABIDJAN, April 15 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's cocoa grind

was down 25.8% year on year in March at 50,656 metric tons, data

from the exporters' association GEPEX showed on Monday.

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

October stood at 339,012 tons of beans by the end of March, down

7.4% compared with 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 metric

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

Netherlands as the leading grinder.