Liffe May cocoa ends 31 pounds higher at 2,049 pounds a tonne, underpinned by concerns over risks to supplies from top producer Ivory Coast due to a power struggle after a disputed November 28 election. Liffe March white sugar ends up $36.40 at $820.90 per tonne, buoyed by strong demand and tightening supplies due to adverse weather in several key producing countries.
Liffe March robusta coffee ends down $1 at $2,011 per tonne, supported by strong demand for robusta beans Earlier in the day Liffe March white sugar was up $27.80 or 3.5 percent at $812.30 per tonne in slim volume of 1,327 lots, having earlier touched a contract high of $815.80 per tonne.
London second-month cocoa was up 40 pounds or 2 percent to 2,058 pounds per tonne in thin turnover of 932 lots. Dealers fear that ongoing tensions could jeopardise the future flows of cocoa out of the country. Arabica coffee prices rose in a small bounce, after being unable to hold onto all the gains made early on Wednesday, when the market peaked at a fresh 13-1/2 year high. Liffe March robusta coffee futures were down $9 or 0.5 percent at $2,003 a tonne in light volume of 3,048 lots. Tight supplies of high quality beans have supported the market with Colombia seeing its production prospects diminish due to unseasonal rainfall.