Band 9: 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 compares six different regions based on their production of cacao beans between 1992 and 1998, with data collected at two-year intervals.

Looking at the illustration, it is immediately evident that South America recorded the highest production figures in most years, while Africa consistently exhibited the lowest numbers. Additionally, most of the regions surveyed demonstrated an overall upward trend, with the exceptions of Africa and West and Central America.

In 1992, South America dominated the chart with a production of 143,000 cacao beans, which was 24,000 more than Asia’s output. England ranked third with 56,000 beans, while West and Central America, Oceania, and Africa followed with approximately 46,000, 40,000, and 29,000 beans, respectively.

By 1996, Asia had overtaken South America to become the leading region in cacao bean production. In 1998, despite some fluctuations, total cacao bean production surged to a peak of 436,000.

In contrast, the figures for South America, Oceania, England, West and Central America, and Africa showed a decline, reaching lows of 389,000, 77,000, 49,000, 46,000, and 25,000 beans, respectively.