SOFTS-Robusta coffee hits three-month high, cocoa also climbs

LONDON, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Robusta coffee futures rose to a three-month high on Wednesday, boosted by falling stocks as U.S. roasters scrambled to secure supplies after the U.S. government imposed a 50% tariff on imports from Brazil.

COFFEE

Robusta coffee futures LRCc2 rose 1.7% to $4,769 a metric ton by 1420 GMT after earlier setting a three-month high of $4,798.

Dealers said the market had been supported by a slow but steady decline in exchange stocks.

Robusta stocks stood at 66,110 tons, as of August 26, down from 70,120 tons at the end of July.

The recent run-up in prices had led to a pick-up in the flow of coffee from producers such as Indonesia.

Tariffs imposed by the U.S., climate change and a smaller crop in Brazil are driving coffee prices higher, the executive director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) told Reuters on Tuesday.

Arabica coffee futures KCc2 gained 1.6% to $3.7840 per lb, climbing back up towards a 3-1/2 month high of $3.8710 on Monday.

COCOA

New York cocoa CCc2 was up 2.7% at $7,818 a ton.

Dealers said there were signs the U.S. was moving to exempt some cocoa producers from tariffs, including potentially Ecuador and Indonesia.

The U.S. has agreed in principle to exempt Indonesian exports of cocoa from the 19% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump since August 7, Indonesia's top trade negotiator said on Tuesday.

London cocoa LCCc2 rose 0.7% at 5,357 pounds per ton.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 rose 0.2% to 16.44 cents per lb.

Brazil's national crop agency Conab on Tuesday cut its forecast for sugar production in the 2025/26 season to 44.5 million metric tons, citing bad weather conditions impacting cultivation of sugarcane.

White sugar LSUc1 gained 0.3% to $489.50 a ton.