SOFTS-Arabica coffee prices edge up, cocoa also higher

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Arabica coffee futures on ICE edged up on Monday, underpinned by the recent decline in exchange stocks, while cocoa and raw sugar prices were also higher.

COFFEE

Arabica coffee KCc2 rose 0.03% to $3.59 per lb by 1430 GMT.

Dealers said the market is also awaiting a planned meeting this week between U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to see if a 50% U.S. tariff on Brazilian coffee could be revised.

Brazil coffee exports to the United States will decline further if U.S. tariffs remain in place, said Marcio Ferreira, the head of exporter group Cecafe.

Robusta coffee LRCc2 was up 0.55% at $4,205 a metric ton.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 gained 0.6% to 4,876 pounds a ton after finding support at Friday's two-month low of 4,838 pounds.

Dealers said the market may be set for a period of consolidation ahead of third quarter grind data, which should provide an indication of whether demand is continuing to weaken.

Grind reports for Europe and North America are both scheduled to be issued on October 16.

Dealers noted speculators had switched to a net short in London cocoa, as of September 23.

New York cocoa CCc2 was up 1.7% at $7,051 a ton.

Above average rainfall last week in most of Ivory Coast's main cocoa-growing regions is expected to support a longer and larger October-to-March main crop, farmers said on Monday, as harvesting gathers pace.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 rose 0.2% to 15.90 cents per lb.

Dealers were awaiting the release in the next few days of data on cane and sugar production in the Centre-South of Brazil covering the first half of September.

Sugar production in the key region is likely to have risen 15% year on year to 3.6 million tons, according to a survey of analysts published by S&P Global Commodity Insights.

White sugar LSUc1 fell 0.2% to $460 a ton.