SOFTS -Cocoa steadies as investors weigh Trump tariff u-turn, Barry Callebaut results

LONDON, April 10 (Reuters) - Cocoa prices steadied on Thursday as investors weighed President Donald Trump's widely welcome move to pause his sweeping trade tariffs for 90 days against weaker than expected results from chocolate and cocoa giant Barry Callebaut BARN.S.

The Swiss chocolate maker and cocoa processor lowered its annual sales volume guidance earlier due to "unprecedented volatility" in cocoa bean prices, sending its shares falling almost 20%, on track for their biggest one-day drop ever.

Sales volumes at Barry Callebaut, whose ingredients are used in one out of four chocolate and cocoa products consumed worldwide, are seen as a barometer of global cocoa and chocolate demand.

The firm, which supplies KitKat maker Nestle NESN.S, posted a volume decline of 4.7% in the first six months of the financial year ending August 31, and forecast a mid-single digit percentage decrease in full-year sales volumes.

London cocoa LCCc2 ​traded down 0.4% at 6,071 pounds a metric ton at 1148 GMT, having hit a five-month low on Wednesday, while New York cocoa CCc2 rose 0.4% to $8,354 a metric ton, having also hit a five-month low on Wednesday.

Limiting losses in cocoa and boosting coffee and sugar was relief over Trump's announcement late Wednesday that he would pause many of his tariffs, a move that prompted the European Union to pause its counter measures against the U.S.

Trillions of dollars were wiped off global equity values after the tariffs were announced late last week, while U.S. government bond yields surged, indicating confidence in the world's biggest economy had been shaken.

A dealer noted that the cocoa market was already concerned about demand after prices hit all-time highs last December, and that the trade war between the U.S. and China remains in place as the tariff pause does not apply to Beijing.

Robusta coffee futures LRCc2 traded up 3.5% at $4,964 a metric ton, having hit a four-month low on Wednesday, while arabica KCc2 rose 2.1% to $3.4760 per lb, having hit a 2-1/2 month low on Wednesday.

"In the short term prices are expected to remain volatile due to low coffee stocks in Brazil, slow sales from Vietnam, and uncertainties regarding U.S. tariffs and the situation in the Red Sea," said Rabobank.

Raw sugar SBc1 traded up 2.2% at 18.29 cents per lb​​, having hit a one-month low on Wednesday, while white sugar LSUc1 rose 1.9% to $523.20 a metric ton, having hit a two-month low on Wednesday.

Dealers said sugar is being boosted by gains in energy prices in the wake of the Trump tariff u-turn. Higher energy prices can tempt mills to increase output of cane-based biofuel ethanol at the expense of sugar.