HC Deb 09 May 1980 vol 984 cc269-71W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the major producers of the following commodities: cocoa, coffee, tea and sugar; how much was produced in 1979; what percentage the figure represented of

(i) COCOA
(1978–79 marketing year (October—September))
World production: 1,496; World exports: 1,467
Main producers Production Percentage of world exports Exports Percentage of world exports
Ivory Coast 312 21 318* 22
Brazil 314 21 312 21
Ghana 265 18 233 16
Nigeria 202 14 147 10
* Previous year stock carried over.
(ii) COFFEE
(Calendar year 1979)
World production: 4,734; World exports: 3,714
Main producers Production Percentage of world exports Exports Percentage of world exports
Brazil 1,254 34 720 19
Colombia 752 20 666 18
Ivory Coast 291 8 276 7
(iii) TEA
(Calendar year 1978)
World production: 1,481; World exports: 754
Main producers Production Percentage of world exports Exports Percentage of world exports
India 573 76 169 22
Sri Lanka 199 26 193 26
Kenya 93 12 85 11
Indonesia 73 10 56 7
(iv) SUGAR
(Calendar year 1978)
World production: 92,300; World exports: 24,800
Main producers Production Percentage of world exports Exports Percentage of world exports
EEC 12,800 52 3,600 15
Brazil 7,900 32 1,900 8
Cuba 7,700 31 7,200 29
India 7,100 29 700 3
The USSR, USA and China, although major for producers with 9.4 million tonnes, 5.1 million tonnes and 4.0 million tonnes respectively; are net importers of sugar.

As to trading arrangements, the position is: Cocoa—the International Cocoa Agreement, 1975, has terminated and no arrangements currently exist for regulating the supply, sale or price of cocoa. Coffee—the International Coffee Agreement, 1976, provides for the introductions of quotas if prices fall to a specified level. At present no

world sales; and whether any trading or cartel arrangements exist for regulating the supply, sale or price of any of the commodities listed.

Mr. Peter Walker

I regret that the information requested on production and exports in 1979 is available only for coffee. This, with the latest available figures (in '000 tonnes) for cocoa, tea and sugar, is given below.

quotas are in operation as the price has remained above the trigger point. Several Latin American producing countries have formed a group which, by its operations on world markets, attempts to influence prices. Tea—no arrangements currently exist for regulating the supply, sale or price of tea. Sugar—the International Sugar Agreement, 1977, aims to promote orderly marketing of sugar and price stability by the introduction of limits on exports and the build-up or release of stocks when prices fall below or rise above certain levels. At present there are no restrictions on exports and the release of all stocks has been authorised as the world price is above the trigger points.

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