SOFTS-London cocoa up slightly after hitting two-week lows

NEW YORK, Dec 23 (Reuters) - London cocoa futures settled up on Tuesday after hitting two-week lows earlier in the session as activity slowed ahead of the holidays.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc1 settled up 0.8% at 4,303 pounds per ton after dipping to a two-week low of 4,154 pounds earlier.

Dealers said activity was subdued ahead of the holidays, and the market lacked significant momentum in either direction.

Recent unseasonably heavy rainfall in top grower Ivory Coast may have temporarily slowed port arrivals but could boost the size and quality of the October-to-March main crop, heightening the prospect of a global surplus this season.

The strength of sterling against the dollar has also pressured London prices this week.

New York cocoa CCc1 ​​settled up 1.2% at $5,958 a ton.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 settled up 1.4% at 15.20 cents per lb​​.

Dealers said the market was in the midst of a short-term bounce as speculators scale back short positions, but the overall mood remained bearish, with the 2025/26 season expected to show a global supply surplus.

White sugar LSUc1 gained 1.3%, at $431.90 a ton.

Sugar production in Brazil's centre-south region is expected to reach 38 million tons in the 2026/27 season, agribusiness consultancy Safras & Mercado said on Monday, down 5% from the previous season.

COFFEE

Robusta coffee LRCc2 settled up 1.5% at $3,824 a ton.

Dealers said recent weakness in prices had led to slower farm sales in top robusta producer Vietnam, helping to tighten supplies.

Indonesia's Senior Economic Minister Airlangga Hartarto, speaking after meeting U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, said the United States had agreed to give Indonesian coffee a tariff exemption.

Arabica coffee KCc1 settled down 0.1% at $3.4695 per lb​​.