Raw-sugar prices rose for the fourth straight day on signs of higher demand and an output decline in Brazil, the world’s top producer. Coffee gained, and cocoa fell.
Unica, a Brazilian sugar group, said yesterday that output in the main growing region fell 17 percent in the first half of May from a year earlier. Mexico and the European Union increased import allowances this week.
“The raw market is tight,” said Michael McDougal, a senior vice president at Newedge USA in New York. “Prices have started rising in anticipation of rising demand.”
Raw sugar for July delivery rose 0.18 cent, or 0.8 percent, to 22.87 cents a pound at 9:52 a.m. on ICE Futures U.S. in New York. The most-active contract climbed 5.5 percent in the previous three days.
On NYSE Liffe in London, refined-sugar futures for August delivery gained $8, or 1.2 percent, to $658 a metric ton.
Yesterday, Tunisia bought 18,000 tons of white sugar and 14,000 tons of raw sweetener in a tender.
Arabica-coffee futures for July delivery advanced 2.6 cents, or 1 percent, to $2.682 a pound in New York.
Cocoa futures for July delivery fell $2 to $3,008 a ton.
In London, robusta coffee and cocoa dropped.