SOFTS-White sugar hits 2-1/2 month high in holiday-thinned trade

LONDON, Sept 1 (Reuters) - White sugar futures on ICE hit 2-1/2-month highs on Monday in holiday-thinned trade with U.S. markets closed for Labor Day, while robusta coffee futures slipped further away from last week's highest level in more than two months.

Coffee remains supported overall, though, by the U.S. move to impose a 50% tariff on imports from top coffee grower Brazil, which has virtually halted bean trade between the two countries and prompted a raid on stocks.

SUGAR

* White sugar LSUc1 rose 2.1% to $502.80 a metric ton at 1124 GMT, having hit its highest since mid-May at $503.80.

* White sugar speculators raised their net long position by 5,223 lots to 33,841 lots as of August 26, exchange data showed.

* Dealers said the market remains focused on output from top sugar grower Brazil.

* Brazil data last week showed that, while center-south sugar output rose 16% in the first half of August, total recoverable sugars (TRS) per kilogram remained below historic levels, so 55% of the cane went towards producing sugar rather than ethanol.

* Also, weather forecaster Vaisala said Brazil will have mostly dry conditions for the next 10 days.

* Raw sugar SBc1 ​​settled down 0.7% at 16.37 cents per lb on Friday, having lost 0.7% last week.

COFFEE

* Robusta coffee futures LRCc2 fell 1.9% to $4,727 a ton, having gained 45% in August.

* Robusta coffee speculators increased net long positions to 5,545 lots as of Aug 26, adding 4,479 lots, data showed.

* Rabobank said that, while U.S. tariffs on Brazil leave the near term outlook bullish for coffee, a sharp correction could transpire if the Trump administration exempts coffee or seals a U.S.-Brazil trade deal.

* Arabica coffee futures KCc2 closed up 2.3% at $3.861 per lb on Friday, having gained 34% in August.

COCOA

* London cocoa LCCc2 fell 0.4% to 5,281 pounds per ton, having lost 4% in August.

* Cocoa prices are under pressure from the new crop in Ghana and Cameroon, forecasts for rains in top grower Ivory Coast and increased U.S. certified stocks.

* New York cocoa CCc2 closed down 1.3% at $7,710 a ton on Friday.