LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) – Raw sugar futures on ICE hit a five-month low on Thursday, pressured by improving supply prospects in key growing regions while risk-off sentiment prevailed in wider financial markets.
Coffee and cocoa also fell. MKTS/GLOB
SUGAR
* March raw sugar SBc1 was flat at 18.34 cents per lb at 1220 GMT, having hit its lowest since early August at 18.23 cents.
* Dealers noted that both the Thai and Indian harvests are going well and there have been ample rains in recent weeks across Brazil’s sugar-growing areas.
* They added that there are growing doubts that a wide deficit will emerge this season and that funds should continue to sell if wider markets remain under pressure.
* March white sugar LSUc1 was up 0.1% at $488.90 a tonne.
COFFEE
* March robusta coffee LRCc2 fell 0.7% to $2,305 a tonne, extending its retreat from a 10-year high of $2,384 set in late December.
* Dealers said that robusta was under pressure from top robusta producer Vietnam’s harvest, which is progressing well.
* Coffee prices in Vietnam fell this week as supply chain disruptions and high shipping costs hurt demand while output was steady as the main harvest continues.
* March arabica coffee KCc1 fell 1.1% to $2.2910 per lb. Arabica rose nearly 4% on Tuesday and hit 10-year highs in December.
* Attention is fixed on the 2022 crop in top producer Brazil, with forecasts due after industry crop visits. The arabica crop, development of which was hurt by drought and frosts last year, will start to be harvested in April.
COCOA
* March New York cocoa CCc1 fell 0.8% to $2,438 a tonne, having hit a 1-1/2 week low on Wednesday.
* March London cocoa LCCc1 fell 0.6% to 1,666 pounds per tonne after hitting a 2-1/2 week low on Wednesday.
* Dealers said cocoa was under pressure after reports the government and striking dock workers in No. 2 cocoa producer Ghana are due to enter negotiations.
(Reporting by Maytaal Angel Editing by David Goodman )
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