Cocoa production in Peru is estimated to reach 70,000 MT in CY 2014. Peruvian cocoa production has been steadily increasing in the past decade due to better prices in the international market and alternative development efforts aiming at reducing planted area of coca. Average cocoa yields are 0.8 metric tons (MT) per hectare but can reach as high as 2.5 MT per hectare. Peruvian cocoa bean exports are expected to reach 37,000 MT in CY 2014, an increase of 18 percent compared to the previous year. Peru’s main cocoa buyers are the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium with 24.6, 16.9 and 16.0 percent respectively of total Peruvian cocoa exports to the world in CY2013. Total cocoa exports in CY 2013 reached $146 million and are forecast to increase 20 percent in CY 2014.