SOFTS-Arabica coffee prices fall, cocoa and sugar gain

NEW YORK, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Arabica coffee futures on ICE fell on Monday amid forecasts for more beneficial rains in top grower Brazil, while cocoa and raw sugar prices gained.

COFFEE

Arabica coffee KCc2 settled 3.35 cents, or 0.9%, lower at $3.5555 per lb.

Dealers said recent rains have spurred flowering in parts of Brazil's coffee belt, although more moisture is needed. There are forecasts for more rain in the first days of October.

The market is awaiting details of a planned meeting 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.

Reports in the Brazilian media said both governments are working to set a date and format of a possible meeting, but so far there is no definition.

Robusta coffee LRCc2 fell 0.2% to $4,174 a metric ton.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 settled up 21 pounds, or 0.4%, at 4,866 pounds per 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 rose 1.4% to $7,031 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 ​settled up 0.15 cent, or 0.9%, at 16.02 cents per lb.

Some market estimates for the October delivery indicate a volume around 1.3 million tons, considering open interest.

Dealers are awaiting release in the next few days of production data on Centre-South 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.

On news, Pakistan bought 80,000 tons of sugar, and is seeking 100,000 tons more.

White sugar LSUc1 rose 0.3% to $462.30 a ton.