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

NEW YORK, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Robusta coffee futures on ICE closed 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 settled up $90, or 2%, at $4,573 a metric ton, 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 2.9% to $3.877 per lb.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 ​settled down 0.1 cents, or 0.7%, at 14.70 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 0.5% to $420.20 a ton.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 ​settled up 25 pounds, or 0.6%, to 4,116 pounds per 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 was little changed at $5,428 a ton.