Print Print edition: 2017-01-19

Arabica coffee dips, cocoa eyes Ivorian unrest

Published January 19, 2017 Updated January 19, 2017 12:00am

Arabica coffee fell on Wednesday on a stronger dollar and expectations for ample supply, while London cocoa gained on renewed unrest in top producer Ivory Coast. March arabica futures were down 1.95 cents, or 1.3 percent, to $1.4795 per lb at 1552 GMT.
One dealer said the market had brushed off Brazilian figures that on Tuesday forecast a downturn in 2017 arabica production, with speculators still hesitant to build positions in that market.
"Obviously the funds haven't really turned the corner on thinking there's any kind of bullish story in arabica, so they continue to stay away from it and buy robusta instead," he said.
"The shorts are now out and you're seeing a bit of a wheezing sound as the rally we've had based on the short-covering collapses on itself a little bit."
March robusta coffee futures slipped $8, or 0.36 percent, to $2,230 a tonne on consolidation, having scaled a 4-1/2 year high the previous day on worries over a poor crop in Brazil.
March London cocoa was up 6 pounds, or 0.33 percent, at 1,798 pounds a tonne, after having climbed 1.56 percent earlier in the day.
Prices were supported by a weaker pound and renewed concerns over unrest in top producer Ivory Coast.
Gendarmes sealed off the entrances to the port in Abidjan, on Wednesday, forcing companies including cocoa exporters to halt operations, a customs officer and an employee of an export firm said.
The port is one of the two main export points for cocoa shipped from the Ivory Coast.
An armed mutiny in West African nation earlier this month gave only a brief boost to prices because it did not directly affect the cocoa value chain and seemed to be on its way to being swiftly resolved this week.
"If there is disruption at the ports, then absolutely we could see an impact on the cocoa prices," said Edward George, head of group research at Pan-African lender Ecobank. "That might be a game-changer."
However, George added that gains may be capped by a good outlook for the mid-crop in both Ivory Coast and Ghana.
This was echoed by a dip in March New York cocoa by $3, or 0.13 percent, to $2,232 a tonne.
The Ivory Coast's Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) marketing board also denied on Wednesday that it plans to cancel about 300,000 tonnes of cocoa contracts on the verge of default and resell them.
Reuters reported on the plan, revealed by a CCC official and finance ministry source, on Tuesday. March raw sugar futures were down 0.06 cents, or 0.3 percent, at 20.67 cents per lb, while March white sugar fell $1.80, or 0.33 percent, to $536.60 per tonne.