SOFTS-Raw sugar hits seven-week low, robusta coffee gains 9% in the week

Adds comments and weekly price moves

- Raw sugar futures on ICE hit a seven-week low on Friday, falling for the sixth consecutive session, despite concerns linked to El Nino conditions in the coming months. Cocoa and coffee prices climbed, with robusta posting a strong weekly gain.

SUGAR

* Raw sugar SBc1 ​​settled down 0.09 cent, or 0.7%, at 13.70 cents per lb, having hit a seven-week low of 13.68 cents.

* The market posted a weekly loss of 3.1%.

* Dealers said the weakness was partly driven by a decline in crude oil prices and ample short-term supplies.

* They noted, however, that the outlook for global sugar production in the 2026/27 season was deteriorating, with mills in Brazil favouring ethanol over sugar as the cane harvest progresses in the Centre-South region.

* An El Nino climate phenomenon could also curb production in several countries, including India and Mexico.

* Moderate to strong El Nino conditions are likely to prevail during India's June-September monsoon season, the weather bureau said on Friday, raising concerns about rainfall and crop prospects in the world's most populous country.

* White sugar LSUc1 fell 0.4% to $444.60 a metric ton.

COCOA

* London cocoa LCCc2 ​​settled up £22, or 0.8%, to £2,885 per ton. It was flat in the week.

* A rise in port arrivals in top grower Ivory Coast and a generally favourable outlook for the rest of the mid-crop harvest continue to weigh on prices.

* The market, however, is underpinned by concerns that production in West Africa will decline in the 2026/27 season partly due to El Nino weather conditions.

* "We maintain that weather-related risks will provide upside support to prices over the coming quarters," BMI said in a note on Friday.

* New York cocoa CCc2 rose 1.8% to $3,868 a ton on Friday and ended the week with a gain of 1%.

COFFEE

* Arabica coffee KCc2 settled up 3.15 cent, or 1.3%, at $2.534 per lb with the market posting a weekly gain of 4.6%.

* "Failure of another bigger support break and especially disinterest from (Brazilian) producers in selling additional volumes at bids passed to them led to a healthy correction," said broker Cazarini in a note. "Now the question remains: is it going to last?".

* Brazil's green coffee exports increased 4.2% in May from a year earlier, landing at 2.73 million 60-kg bags in the first monthly increase since November 2024, industry group Cecafe said on Thursday.

* Robusta coffee LRCc2 gained 3.8% to $3,525 a ton. The market posted a 9% weekly gain.