SOFTS-Robusta coffee prices ease, set for weekly decline

LONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Robusta coffee prices were lower on Friday and on course for a weekly loss with the damage to Vietnam's crop from recent storms seen as less significant than some had expected, while a record crop in Brazil also weighed on prices.

COFFEE

Robusta coffee LRCc2 fell 0.8% to $4,198 a metric ton by 1132 GMT and was on track for a weekly loss of 4.9%.

Dealers noted Brazil's national crop agency Conab had raised its forecast for the country's robusta coffee crop on Thursday to an all-time high of 20.77 million bags, up from a previous projection of 20.05 million.

They also noted that while the robusta harvest in the largest producer Vietnam had been slowed by storms and floods there were not expected to be major crop losses.

Arabica coffee KCc2 fell 1.1% to $3.7625 per lb.

Brazil exported 212,150 metric tons of green coffee in November, down 25.6% from a year ago, government data showed.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 ​rose 0.7% to 14.98 cents per lb but was on track for a weekly loss of 1.5%.

Top sugar grower Brazil exported 3.3 million tons of sugar in November, the government said, 2.6% less than a year ago, but still a large monthly amount.

Dealers said drier-than-normal weather in Centre-South Brazil was, however, helping to underpin the market and keeping prices above last month's five-year low.

White sugar LSUc1 gained 1% to $429.40 a ton.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 lost 0.6% to 3,937 pounds per ton and was on track for a weekly loss of 3.2%.

Dealers said the strength of sterling against the dollar had weighed on London prices this week.

New York cocoa CCc2 rose 0.1% to $5,491 a ton.