SOFTS-Robusta coffee hits 2-1/2 month low, London cocoa climbs

NEW YORK, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Robusta coffee prices fell to a 2-1/2 month low on Monday as the harvest in top grower Vietnam picked up after recent delays caused by storms and flooding.

Arabica coffee also fell, while London cocoa rose.

COFFEE

Robusta coffee LRCc2 settled $86, or 2.1%, lower at $4,092 a metric ton after setting a 2-1/2 month low of $4,085.

Brazil robusta coffee growers are pushing for quality amid rising prices and climate concerns.

Arabica coffee KCc2 lost 2.3% to $3.662 per lb, a two-week low.

Dealers said an expected pick-up in shipments from Brazil to the U.S. in coming weeks could weigh on arabica prices. They also noted beneficial rains in Brazil and weak technical signs.

"Prices are expected to retreat in the coming weeks as the removal of US tariffs on Brazilian coffee normalizes trade flows and enables a rebuild of US ICE-certified stocks," BMI said in a note on Monday.

"Volatility is increasing as we head towards the end of the year. We lost 2% today, we could climb 3% tomorrow," said a Brazil-based broker.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 settled 63 pounds, or 1.6%, higher at 4,120 pounds per ton boosted partly by a weaker pound.

Dealers said there remained concern about a build up in stocks of cocoa in Ivory Coast although some are expecting a slowdown in port arrivals in the first quarter of 2026.

About 85,000 tons were delivered between Dec. 1 and 7 to ports in top grower Ivory Coast, equal to the same week of the previous season, exporters estimated.

New York cocoa CCc2 was little changed at $5,701 a ton.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 ​was little changed at 14.82 cents per lb.

"Suddenly, it seems that the 15 c/lb threshold did not prove sufficiently supportive, as the spot market remains well supplied against lackluster demand," said sugar analyst Claudiu Covrig in a note to clients.

"Some bulls would even prefer to absorb further near-term pain and see a lower floor tested, from where they could rebuild long positions," he added.

White sugar LSUc1 fell 0.7% to $422.60 a ton.