London white sugar futures closed weaker on producer selling on Tuesday as the market digested news of a Sudanese 100,000 tonne buying tender, dealers said.
Front-month March settled down $3.10 or 0.90 percent at $340.0 per tonne, after trading from $345.80 to $340.00.
Second-month May concluded down $3.50 or 0.99 percent at $349.30 per tonne, having moved from $354.50 to $348.70.
"There has been very little volume - some trade buying and producer selling, and around 340 lots of AAs (Against Actuals - a form of hedging)," one trader said.
Traders digested news of a huge Sudanese buying tender, but there was no immediate market impact as some traders voiced scepticism that the Sudanese would buy sugar at current high price levels, not far off nine-year peaks.
Sudan's state-owned Sudanese Sugar Company has tendered to buy 100,000 tonnes of white sugar for January/April shipment, trade sources said on Tuesday.
The deadline for offers is January 4, they said. There was no immediate official confirmation.
COCOA RISES:
London cocoa futures closed higher on Tuesday after a late spurt of industry buying supported by a stronger dollar, and traders said the market outlook would likely remain rangebound before Christmas.
Front-month March concluded up 13 pounds at 865 pounds, after trading from 868 to 847 pounds.
Second-month May settled up 14 pounds at 876 pounds, having moved from 877 to 859 pounds.
"There was industry covering late in the session, and selling dried up," one trader said. Traders said a stronger dollar also propelled buying. They predicted cocoa futures would remain rangebound in pre-Christmas trade.
Farmgate prices in Ivory Coast's main cocoa regions were mixed December 12-18, Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) data showed on Tuesday, with supplies falling in places and farmers selling to raise Christmas cash elsewhere.
COFFEE HIGHER:
London robusta coffee futures closed slightly higher on Tuesday, boosted by speculative buying as traders continued to roll forward positions out of January into March, dealers said.
"Spread trade was the main thing," one dealer commented, noting there have been heavy trade in January/March at up to $23 versus about $18 on Monday.
Dealers said prices appeared to have resumed their upward trend after last week's short-lived setback.
"Technically it looks good and there is no selling from origin at the moment," one dealer said.
Most active March closed up $6 at $1,181 a tonne on a turnover of 10,092 lots. Total volume was an active 18,894 lots.