Jakarta, Aug. 1 -- Indonesia raised its August export reference and benchmark prices for cocoa beans after supply disruptions in West Africa driven by adverse weather, pest attacks, and El Nino-related production declines, pushed global prices sharply higher, the Trade Ministry said.

Trade Ministry's Director General for Foreign Trade, Tommy Andana, said the August cocoa bean reference price was set at US$5,424.96 per metric ton, up US$1,455.41, or 36.66 percent, from the previous month.

The export benchmark price was increased to US$5,064 per metric ton, climbing US$1,418, or 38.90 percent, reflecting higher international market prices and export costs, according to the ministry's press statement received here on Saturday.

The ministr...