ASIA COFFEE-Domestic coffee prices edge up in Vietnam, Indonesia flips to discount

By Phuong Nguyen and Mas Alini Arifin

HANOI, April 17 (Reuters) - Coffee bean prices in Vietnam rose this week as focus shifted to tight supplies after a temporary pause on U.S. tariffs, while beans in Indonesia flipped to a discount, traders said on Thursday.

Farmers in the Central Highlands, Vietnam's largest coffee-growing region, sold beans COFVN-DAK at 132,700-133,700 dong ($5.13-$5,17) per kg, up from last week's 117,300-119,000 dong.

LIFFE robusta coffee for July LRCc2 also gained $330 from the beginning of this week, closing at $5,379 per metric ton on Wednesday.

"Now that tariff concern has temporarily eased, people turn their focus back on supply crunch as Vietnam still remains a key source for robusta until harvest peak in Indonesia," said a trader based in the coffee belt.

Over the past week, some U.S.-based importers asked Vietnamese firms to delay shipments and suspend signing new contracts as they were afraid of possible tariffs on the country, the Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam said in a note.

"Other markets have also suspended transactions as they foresee prices will potentially fall due to the tariffs," according to the agency.

In Indonesia, Sumatra robusta coffee beans were offered at a $150-160 discount to the May contract, down from $160-$180 premium last week "to adjust with the rise in London terminal lately", one trader said.

Another trader quoted $140 discount to the July contract, compared to a $180 premium last week as "coffee beans are more available at the market."

($1 = 25,880.0000 dong)