KUALA LUMPUR (July 18): Cocoa processing in Asia likely rose 13.8% from a year earlier to about 211,000 metric tons in 2Q, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of 10 analysts and traders.

* That’s the highest quarterly grind on record since the Cocoa Association of Asia began releasing data in 2011

* Percentage forecasts for 2Q range from +10% to +18.7% y/y

* NOTE: Asia’s cocoa grindings were 185,394 tons in 2Q 2018, and 208,388 tons in 1Q this year

* NOTE: Singapore-based association set to release data July 19

** Report covers grindings from Malaysia and CAA members in Singapore and Indonesia

* NOTE: Malaysia 2Q cocoa grindings jump 45% y/y to 83,449 tons, according to Malaysian Cocoa Board and Cocoa Manufacturers Group

* NOTE: Processing in Europe, the top consuming region, fell 3.2% y/y to 344,890 tons in 2Q, according to the European Cocoa Association