SOFTS-Robusta coffee extends advance on potential pick-up in US demand

By Nigel Hunt

LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Robusta coffee futures on ICE edged higher on Tuesday, extending the prior session's steep gains, buoyed partly by the possibility that the removal of U.S. import tariffs for most producers could lead to a pick-up in demand in the world's top consuming nation.

COFFEE

Robusta coffee LRCc2 rose 0.65% to $4,512 a metric ton by 1148 GMT after surging 6.2% on Monday.

The Trump administration's decision to eliminate tariffs on most coffee bean imports will be a boon for coffee roasters and importers in the U.S., but top global grower Brazil will suffer because its coffee remains subject to a steep tariff.

"There may be speculation that the US could now import more robusta coffee, although this is unlikely given consumption habits. In addition, there are currently concerns about the quality of the crop in Vietnam, the world's largest producer of robusta coffee. Just over a week ago, a typhoon brought heavy rainfall, which could result in harvest delays and quality losses," Commerzbank said in a note.

Arabica coffee KCc2 rose 0.65% to $3.7905 per lb.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 fell 0.4% to 14.74 cents per lb.

China imported 750,000 metric tons of sugar in October, up 39% on the same month last year, according to data released by the General Administration of Customers on Tuesday.

White sugar LSUc1 was unchanged at $418.10 a ton.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 was down 0.8% at 4,057 pounds a ton.

Ivory Coast's cocoa grind fell 25.4% year-on-year at the start of the 2025/26 season in October to 44,075 metric tons, data from exporters' association GEPEX showed on Tuesday.

New York cocoa CCc2 lost 1.1% to $5,374 a ton.