Liffe May white sugar rises $18.20 to close at $706.10 a tonne on Thursday. Market supported by concern about delays to the harvest in top producer Brazil. Liffe May robusta coffee ends $31 higher at $2,569 a tonne. Traders continued to keep a close watch on the May/July premium, which has been boosted by concern about a possible shortage of available supplies to deliver against the May contract.
Liffe July cocoa ends 15 pounds lower at 2,074 pounds a tonne. Conflict in Ivory Coast and weakness of sterling helped to limit losses. Forecaster Telvent DTN reported showers continuing across cane areas of Brazil. Rains have hindered the country's early harvest, providing bullish fuel for the market. Prices have slid on growing supplies as the tail of the Thai crop has exceeded expectations and India has agreed to allow 500,000 tonnes of unrestricted exports.
"News that India has given the go-ahead for 500,000 tonnes of sugar exports earlier this week has weighed on prices," Barclays Capital said in a report on Thursday.
"Supply increases look likely on indications of higher Thai production, increased 2011/12 Brazilian production and the likelihood of an expansion in sugar acreage in India," it added.
Cocoa futures slipped although bullish factors were seen limiting losses in the market.
Pressure mounted on the United Nations to toughen its stance in Ivory Coast as a violent post-election conflict in the West African cocoa producer veered toward all-out civil war.
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