SOFTS-Cocoa hits month high on supply concerns, robusta steadies

LONDON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Cocoa futures on the ICE exchange hit a one month high on Tuesday as concerns over prospects for the tail end of the main crop in top grower Ivory Coast escalated, while robusta coffee steadied above 2-1/2 month lows.

COCOA

London cocoa LCCc2 rose 3.2% to 4,252 a metric ton at 1457 GMT, having hit a one-month high of 4,278.

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

Dealers pointed out, however, that the figure breaks a four-week streak of 100,000 or more tons and could be the first sign that, as feared, the tail end of the main crop will disappoint.

New York cocoa CCc2 rose 3.2% to $5,884 a ton, having hit a one month high of $5,967.

COFFEE

Robusta coffee LRCc2 rose 1% to $4,133 a metric ton, after setting a 2-1/2 month low of $4,085 on Monday.

"The Central Highlands is finally enjoying a dry spell after the recent typhoons, allowing harvest activities to accelerate," said a Vietnam-based dealer.

He noted that local prices have softened and that Vietnam's coffee exports rose 38% year-on-year in November despite the severe weather disruptions.

Arabica coffee KCc2 rose 1.1% to $3.6990 per lb, after hitting a two week low on Monday.

Cool, wet conditions are expected over most of top arabica grower Brazil's crop regions through the next couple weeks, benefiting crop development, according to LSEG Weather Research.

SUGAR

Raw sugar SBc1 fell 0.6% to 14.73 per lb, having closed little changed on Monday.

Cane farmers in Thailand, the world's second-largest sugar exporter after Brazil, are switching to cassava as prices plunge and fields in some parts of the country face a disease outbreak, analyst Green Pool said.

Dealers said that overall, sugar is stuck in a holding pattern heading into the year-end, with rainfall in top grower Brazil expected to keep any potential price gains in check.

White sugar LSUc1 dipped 0.5% to $420.40 a ton.