
Robusta coffee recovers after hitting 16-month lows, cocoa also gains ground
Cocoa also regained some ground.
Coffee
Robusta coffee was up 2.8% at $3,278 a metric ton at 1146 GMT, having hit its lowest since last March at $3,166.
The harvest in key producers Brazil and Indonesia, the world's second and third largest exporters of the bean, is progressing well and there are no weather risks on the horizon, dealers said.
The market remained focused, however, on whether the U.S. will go ahead on August 1 with planned 50% tariffs on all imports from Brazil, the world's top coffee grower and supplier of a third of U.S. coffee.
Brazil's finance minister on Monday acknowledged a trade deal may fail to be reached by August 1, while U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized the administration is prioritizing the quality of trade deals over speed.
Dealers said the tariffs, while initially bullish as they create demand for certified stocks, are likely bearish long-term for world coffee prices as they would hurt demand in top coffee drinker the U.S. by raising prices there.
Arabica coffee was little changed at $2.8480 per lb.
Robusta coffee falls on ample supplies, cocoa edges up
Cocoa
London cocoa rose 1.5% to 5,183 pounds per ton, extending its rebound from an around 4% fall last week.
Shares in Lindt & Spruengli dropped around 6% after the Swiss chocolate maker reported lower than expected first-half earnings as steep price hikes struck its overall sales volumes.
The news reinforced concerns over flailing demand for the chocolate ingredient in response to historically high prices.
Limiting losses, however, dealers noted exchange stocks in London have fallen by more than 7,000 tons over the past week to just over 57,000 tons, and that speculators are reducing their long positions or bets on price gains.
New York cocoa rose 0.6% to $7,467 a ton.
Sugar
Raw sugar fell 0.9% to 16.23 cents per lb.
No trading companies were believed to have submitted price offers in an international tender to buy 50,000 metric tons of sugar from Pakistan which closed on Tuesday, European traders said in initial assessments.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Sterling at four month low against euro
LONDON: The pound dropped to its weakest level against the euro in four months on Friday as a weekly decline in gilt yields on soft British data contrasted with higher European yields on expectations the European Central Bank is done with rate cuts. The euro reached as high as 87.27 pence, up 0.24% and approaching its April 11 peak of 87.38 pence, hit at the height of tariff-induced market turmoil. A break past that would take the euro to its highest since late 2023. The pound was also down 0.4% against the dollar at $1.3456. Data on Friday showed British retail sales for June were slightly below analysts' expectations, albeit rebounding from a sharp drop in May. They followed figures on Thursday showing UK business activity grew only weakly in July and employers cut jobs at the fastest pace in five months. The jobs data is the most important aspect of this, said Derek Halpenny, head of research global markets EMEA at MUFG, as rate setters at the Bank of England are most focused on the labour market. As a result, yields on British government bonds, or gilts, are set for small weekly falls across the curve, in contrast with European government bond yields, which are up sharply on signs of a US-EU trade deal and hints from the ECB that it is done with interest rate cuts. This 'notable divergence' is sending euro/sterling higher, said Halpenny. The BoE has hitherto been much more cautious about rate cuts than the ECB and most other European developed market central banks due to stubbornly high British inflation. The ECB has cut by 200 basis points since last year, in contrast to just 100 bps from the BoE. However, while ECB could now be done with easing, markets continue to anticipate two further 25 bps BoE cuts this year, and see around an 80% chance of the first of those at its early August meeting. Analysts say should UK inflation slow, the pace of cuts could accelerate. Though with inflation hitting its highest in a year in June, they say the BoE has a difficult balancing act.


Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Latam FX lower, stocks mixed as caution prevails ahead of US tariff deadline
BRASILIA: Most Latin American currencies were dented by a stronger dollar on Friday, and stocks declined, as investors grew risk-averse ahead of the US tariff deadline and a slew of monetary policy decisions next week. US President Donald Trump said there was a '50-50' chance of a trade deal with the European Union, though European diplomats said a framework deal could happen this weekend. He also hinted that the Federal Reserve may be ready to cut interest rates, amid repeated calls and persistent criticism of Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The central bank meets next week. On the day, the uncertainty pushed the dollar index up 0.3%, pressuring most Latam currencies. MSCI's index tracking these currencies was down 0.2%, but set for its second week of gains. Currencies in Chile and Colombia were the worst hit, down 0.8% and 0.7% against the dollar. Declining copper prices added to declines in the Chilean peso. Brazil's real fell 0.3%. Domestic inflation remained well above the central bank's target range in mid-July, data showed. The reading comes ahead of the central bank's meeting next week, where it is widely expected to hold interest rates at a two-decade high, in a pause to its tightening cycle, where the Selic rate was raised by a cumulative 450 basis points since August. This week, markets took on more risk after the US signed a trade deal with Japan and signaled that more agreements were in the works, reviving some hopes that the worst tariff impacts could be avoided. 'Markets got excited with the Japanese trade deal because the outcome was slightly better than expected and there was some read through to what that could mean for trade negotiations with Europe,' said Christine Reed, EM portfolio manager at Ninety-One. 'Now people are taking chips off the table ahead of some new tariff negotiations, concerned that this could increase volatility in the market.' In Argentina, the peso was flat while stocks jumped 2.3%. Dollar bonds in the country were broadly higher after the International Monetary Fund reached a staff-level agreement on the first review of its extended fund facility with the government, potentially unlocking about.


Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
PM ‘dissatisfied' with CDA chief's performance
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman, as multiple reports point to administrative lapses and substandard construction work in the federal capital. The sources within the CDA told Business Recorder that the prime minister has decided to remove CDA Chairman Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Chief Commissioner Islamabad and member administration Talat Gondal from their respective positions. The decision, the sources added, follows a string of complaints and documented irregularities concerning several civic projects. CDA faces criticism as audit reveals lack of transparency According to insider accounts, the prime minister has already conducted interviews with two former CDA chairmen as potential replacements. The prime minister is said to have taken serious note of irregularities in the Serena Underpass and the Business Facilitation Centre projects. A report detailing discrepancies in billing practices for LED lighting - where charges were allegedly drawn from the public exchequer - has also been submitted, sources said. In addition, drainage issues in the Diplomatic Enclave have reportedly caused damage to foreign missions, prompting several European embassies to lodge formal written complaints with the Prime Minister's Office. Concerns were further heightened over substandard construction at the Tayyip Erdogan Interchange, which, according to government officials, may have adversely affected Pakistan's international image. A separate report indicating alleged embezzlement of Rs500 million in a development project has also been received by the prime minister. Reports also suggest that the prime minister expressed dismay over inappropriate conduct by CDA officials towards elected representatives. The removal of Randhawa and Gondal now appears imminent, with an official notification expected shortly, according to government sources. Both Randhawa and Gondal did not respond to requests for comment. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025