The British currency recovered from an overnight drop against the dollar that took it to a 10-day low, as the greenback's spike higher fizzled out by the start of European trading.
Dollar Tree Inc's shares dropped about 7pc, as it forecast freight costs to be up as much as 80 cents per share for the rest of the year, compared with 2020.
Rains that are forecast to reach Brazil's main coffee areas this weekend and intensify in the days after could delay some harvest work, but are expected to improve conditions for next year's crop.
The U.S. dollar slipped to three-week lows after the data, making gold more appealing for holders of other currencies, while benchmark 10-year Treasury yields also ticked lower.
The U.S. currency - which appreciated this year, helped in part by a rally in U.S. Treasury yields - has come under pressure in recent sessions as yields have retreated.
Gold is seen as a hedge against rising inflation, but firmer Treasury yields, which translate into a higher opportunity cost for holding bullion, have challenged that status.
South Africa's trade surplus widened to 28.96 billion rand ($1.96 billion) in February from a revised surplus of 12.42 billion rand in January, data from the revenue service showed.
The Canadian dollar was trading 0.4pc lower at 1.2633 to the greenback, or 79.16 U.S. cents, having touched its weakest level since March 10 at 1.2646.