JAKARTA, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Indonesia, the world's top palm oil producer, has lowered its earlier output forecast by 8 percent to 23.6 million tonnes this year, an agriculture ministry official said late on Thursday.
Earlier this year, the same ministry said it expected production of the edible oil to rise 14 percent to 25.7 million tonnes this year, from 22.5 million tonnes in 2011. (nL3E8C933G)
Gamal Nasir, director-general of plantation at the agriculture ministry, gave no reason for the change, at a media briefing in Jakarta.
The Indonesian Palm Oil Association expects crude palm oil output to increase 6 percent to 25 million tonnes in 2012 due to rising plantation areas.(nL3E8C43TJ)
Rising demand for palm oil - used in cosmetics, cookies and ice cream - has led to deforestation that has prompted an Indonesian moratorium on new permits to clear forests from May last year. (nL3E7GQ05F)
Nasir also said output of cocoa beans in the world's No. 3 producer, would be 833,310 tonnes this year, versus January's forecast at 1.3 million tonnes and 712,230 tonnes in 2011.
At the time of the government's January predictions, analysts were sceptical that cocoa output in Indonesia would rise above 1 million tonnes and said the figure would later be revised downwards.
The country is battling disease and adverse weather conditions, which have hampered the country's cocoa supplies in recent years.
Last month, a survey showed that the government's $350 million government programme aimed at reviving Indonesia's cocoa industry had suffered a serious setback after most newly planted trees died. (nL3E8IA3ZL)
Indonesian rubber output for this year will be 3.27 million tonnes versus an early forecast at 2.7 million tonnes, and coffee production is seen at 748,110 tonnes from 718,000 tonnes and 633,990 tonnes in 2011, Nasir added.
In June, the Indonesian Rubber Association (Gapkindo) said output in the world's second-biggest producer would slip by as much as 10 percent to about 2.65 million tonnes this year.
Dry weather and falling global prices, were cited for the fall by Gapkindo. (nL3E8HP1PL)
Indonesia is considering investing $526 million over three years to boost and improve output in its rubber trees, starting in 2013. (nL4E8IJ338)
