ABIDJAN, Nov 18 (Reuters) -
* Ivory Coast cocoa grinders processed 47,000 tonnes of beans from the start of the season on Oct. 1 to the end of October, data from exporters' association GEPEX showed on Monday.
* That is 4.4 % higher than the 45,000 tonnes processed in the same period last season.
* The GEPEX data only covers six of the largest grinding companies, including Barry Callebaut BARN.S , Olam OLAM.SI and Cargill CARGIL.UL , among 12 active firms.
* Ivory Coast has total grinding capacity of 712,000 tonnes.
* The country is the world's top cocoa producer and vies with the Netherlands for the spot of leading grinder.