Raw sugar and US cocoa futures settled up in thin trade on Wednesday, while arabica coffee closed at a six-month low after a choppy session weighed down by chart-based pressure and Brazil's new-crop harvest. Key October raw sugar futures rose 0.14 cent to close at 28.92 cents per lb.
Market range-bound while waiting for debt issues in Europe and the United States to be resolved. Optionsellers.com analyst James Cordier said market supported by expectations of possible further reductions in cane harvest of top grower Brazil.
Brazil sugar industry group Unica said the crush in key centre-south region at 533.5 million tonnes. Cordier said some in trade feel it could drop further to below 530 million tonnes.
September arabica coffee futures dropped 0.45 cent to finish at $2.4340 per lb, the lowest for the spot contract since January 27.
Pressure from top grower Brazil's new-crop harvest, said traders. Chart-based selling after September closed below the 200-day moving average at $2.4620 per lb on Tuesday.
A Reuters poll forecast robusta and arabica prices might trade at slightly higher levels by the end of the year. ICE certified arabica stocks tumbled 21,596 bags to 1,560,092 bags by July 19, with 17,810 bags pending grading, according to ICE data.
Key September cocoa futures gained $19 to settle at $3,183 per tonne. Market inched higher in thin dealings, with total volume around 9,902 lots, down nearly 50 percent from the 30-day average, according to Thomson Reuters preliminary data.
Chart-based support attracted light buying after the 20-day and 200-day moving averages crossed below the market last week, said traders. September also remained above the 100-day moving average, a positive market factor, said traders.