SOFTS-Arabica coffee hits eight-week high, buoyed by low stocks

LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Arabica coffee futures on ICE climbed to an eight-week high on Friday, boosted partly by low exchange stocks, while sugar and cocoa prices fell.

COFFEE

* Arabica coffee futures KCc1 rose 2.1% to $3.3280 per lb by 1437 GMT after touching an eight-week high of $3.3325.

* Dealers said the market has been supported partly by a decline in certified exchange stocks, as roasters look to secure alternative supplies following the imposition of a 50% tariff on U.S. imports of Brazilian coffee.

* Brazil supplies about one-third of U.S. coffee imports.

* "Inventories remain low, exports have underperformed in some producing regions, and recent light-to-moderate frosts in Brazil, especially in the Cerrado Mineiro region, have raised concerns about the next harvest," Rabobank analyst Guilherme Morya said in a report on Friday.

* Robusta coffee LRCc2 gained 1.5% to $4.010 a metric ton, having hit its highest level in nearly two months at $4,019.

SUGAR

* Raw sugar SBc1 slipped 0.4% to 16.52 cents per lb.

* Sugar production in Brazil's key center-south region fell 0.8% in the second half of July when compared to the year-earlier period, hitting 3.61 million metric tons, industry group UNICA said on Friday.

* White sugar LSUc1 fell 1.6% to $481.40 a ton.

COCOA

* New York cocoa CCc2 fell 1.2% to $8,172 a ton but was on track for a weekly gain of about 2.4%.

* Dealers said the recent run-up in prices had led to a pick-up in hedging, while short-term speculators had also taken some profits on long positions ahead of the weekend.

* London cocoa LCCc2 fell 1.6% to 5,483 pounds per ton.