ABIDJAN, May 27 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast's cocoa grind

slipped 7% year-on-year in April to 38,169 metric tons, data

from exporter association GEPEX showed on Tuesday.

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

October stood at 389,656 tons of beans by the end of April, down

0.2% from a revised 390,626 tons at 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.

(Reporting by Ange Aboa; Editing by Ayen Deng Bior)