LONDON: Raw sugar futures on ICE rose on Wednesday, recovering from a six-week low hit in the previous session as crude oil prices jumped 3% on EU plans to ban Russianoil imports.

Higher energy prices tend to prompt mills in top sugarproducer Brazil to ramp up output of ethanol, a cane-basedbiofuel, at the expense of sugar.

Sugar

July raw sugar rose 1% to 18.82 cents per lb at 1216 GMT, after dipping on Tuesday to 18.59 cents - the weakest level for the front month since March 18.

Dealers said sugar will likely remain under pressure dueto a small global surplus expected this season and next. Theyadded, however, that until a clearer output picture emerges from Brazil, prices will have some support, especially around the 18.60 level.

The cane harvest in Centre-South Brazil is off to aslower-than-expected start as mills have been focused on using cane to produce ethanol rather than sugar.

Raw sugar futures rebound, focus on May expiry

August white sugar rose 0.2% to $520.20 a tonne,having also touched a six-week low on Tuesday.

Coffee

July arabica coffee rose 1.5% to $2.2115 per lb,with the market regaining some ground after falling by nearly 3% on Monday.

Starbucks suspended its guidance for the rest ofits fiscal year as second quarter sales growth missed WallStreet targets due to China’s tough COVID-19 curbs.

Comparable sales in China, where the chain has rapidlyexpanded in recent years, declined 23%, overshadowing 12% growth in North America.

July robusta coffee rose 1.1% to $2,138 a tonne,having hit its highest in a month earlier at $2,140.

Cocoa

July New York cocoa was flat at $2,607 a tonne.

Dealers said the market was being underpinned by shortcovering.

July London cocoa edged up 0.1% to 1,836 poundsper tonne?.