SOFTS-Robusta coffee buoyed by potential pick-up in US demand

LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Robusta coffee futures on ICE edged higher on Tuesday, 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 1.2% to $4,535 a metric ton by 1500 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 U.S. could now import more robusta coffee, although this is unlikely given consumption habits," Commerzbank said in a note.

"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."

Arabica coffee KCc2 rose 1.8% to $3.8335 per lb.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 fell 0.1% to 14.78 cents per lb.

Dealers said supplies were currently ample with a global surplus anticipated in the current 2025/26 season, partly due to favorable weather in key Asian producing countries.

"Together with strong late-season production in Brazil, a positive start to major Northern Hemisphere harvests in India and Thailand would reinforce expectations of adequate supplies during the Brazilian off-season," Rabobank said in a note.

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 Customs on Tuesday.

White sugar LSUc1 rose 0.6% to $420.60 a ton.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 was down 0.9% at 4,055 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 1.7% to $5,346 a ton.