LONDON: Raw sugar futures were lower on Tuesday, erasing some of the prior session's gains, as the market remained choppy but lacking a clear overall trend while arabica coffee crept higher.
SUGAR
* March raw sugar was down 0.14 cents, or 1.1 percent, at 12.65 cents a lb at 1232 GMT. * Dealers noted the market was volatile but still range-bound with prices falling sharply on Friday before rebounding strongly on Monday.
* An improving outlook for crops in several countries including India, Thailand and the European Union is keep a lid on prices with some believing technically-driven funds have been the main buyers in recent days.
* Further clarity is expected when Commitments of Traders (COT) reports resume. They had been delayed this month due to the US government's partial shutdown.
* "Belief in the wider market is that the funds have been buying which is the main driver for the recent bull moves," said Darren Stetzel, commodity broker at INTL FCStone in Singapore.
"But the truth is that no one can be sure what the fund position is until the next (COT) report is published which will continue to add some volatility to the market amid differing opinions," he added.
* March white sugar fell $3.90, or 1.1 percent, to $341.90 a tonne.
COFFEE
* March arabica coffee was up 0.40 cents, or 0.4 percent, at $1.0305 per lb at 1154 GMT, consolidating after the prior session's steep fall.
* Dealers continued to keep a close watch on the weather in top grower Brazil with the sharp fall on Monday linked to rains which diminished concern about dry weather.
* Some, however, suggested the threat of crops remained with the rains seen as insufficient.
* "Rains this week and during the 6-10 day are expected to be too light and scattered in nature to notably ease extensive dryness. This will maintain stress on (coffee) cherry growth across the region," weather forecaster Radiant Solutions said in a report issued late on Monday.
* March robusta coffee was up $6, or 0.4 percent, at $1,514 a tonne.
COCOA
* May New York cocoa rose $19, or 0.8 percent, to $2,303 a tonne.
* May London cocoa was up 9 pounds, or 0.55 percent, at 1,632 pounds a tonne.
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