Malaysia will become a world leading cocoa processor by 2010, a senior official said Monday.

By 2010, Malaysia's total grinding capacity is projected to reach 360,000 tons, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui said at the Malaysian Cocoa Trade and Technical Awareness Program.

The increase in capacity will be achieved through expansion of grinding facilities of the existing grinders as well as efficiency in processing, Chan said.

The grinding capacity reached 258,647 tons last year which contributed 7.6 percent of the total world grindings, making Malaysia the 4th largest cocoa processor in the world and the largest in Asia, Chan said.

This year, the country's total grinding capacity is expected to reach 270,000 tons and export earnings are projected to exceed 2 billion ringgit (540.54 million U.S. dollars), he said.

The minister also urged local cocoa manufacturers to work closely with the Malaysian Cocoa Board on quality control and ensure their manufacturing practice lives up to international standards on food safety.

Source: Xinhua