Band 8+: The table below gives information about the production of cocoa beans in six regions between 1992 and 1998. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.

The table below illustrates six different areas based on the quantity of produced cacao beans from 1992 to 1998 at two-year intervals.

Examining the illustration, it is immediately evident that Asia and South America recorded the highest figures throughout the period, whereas the opposite was true for North America, Central America, and Africa. Additionally, most regions surveyed showed overall dramatic changes, except for North and Central America.

In 1992, South America’s production of cacao beans dominated the table at 143000 units, which was roughly about 20000 units higher than that of Asia. England, North/Central America, and Oceania ranked third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, at 56000, 46000, and 40000 units, while Africa came in last at 29000 units. In 1996, Asia had overtaken South America to become the area with the most produced cacao beans of the six.

In 1998, despite various fluctuations, Asia and South America experienced exponential growth and reached peaks of around 436000 and 389000 units, respectively. The figure for Oceania had a slight increase at 77000, whereas England and Africa declined substantially to stand at 49000 and 25000 units respectively; meanwhile, there was a stable trend in North and Central America during the period, at exactly 46000 units.