SOFTS-Robusta coffee rallies amid supply jitters, tariff exemptions

NEW YORK, April 14 (Reuters) - World robusta coffee prices rallied on Monday after U.S. exclusions on some tariffs allowed investors to turn their attention back to worries over falling supplies of the instant coffee ingredient.

Data last week showed robusta exports from Brazil, the world's second largest shipper of the bean, tumbled some 84% in March from a year ago. Meanwhile, certified stocks in ICE exchange warehouses LRC-TOT-VG are at 1-1/2 month lows.

"The trade is expecting lower Brazilian production this year due to the extended drought last year, the 'off-year' in their biennial production cycle, and disappointing rainfall over the past few months," said broker ADMISI.

Robusta coffee futures LRCc2 settled up $190, or 3.8%, at $5,239 a ton on the ICE exchange, which serve as a global price benchmark, having lost 1.5% last week.

Arabica coffee futures KCc2, used largely in pricier roast and ground blends, rose 1.4% to $3.585 per lb, having lost 2.7% last week.

Consultancy Safras & Mercado said Brazilian farmers sold 95% of the 2024/25 coffee crop, above the five-year average of 90%.

But the sales are slower for the new crop, amid the uncertainty about production. Farmers sold 14% of the 2025/26 coffee versus 25% of long-term average for the period, said Safras.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday granted exclusions from steep tariffs on smartphones, computers and some other electronic goods imported largely from China, but then warned on Sunday that levies were still likely.

Investors remain concerned that a trade war could weaken global economic growth and dent demand for consumer goods, but major stock indexes in Europe and Asia nevertheless bounced on Monday thanks to the brief reprieve.

In other soft commodities traded, London cocoa futures LCCc2 ​settled down 234 pounds, or 3.8%, to 5,973 pounds per ton, having lost 3% last week, while New York cocoa CCc2 fell 3.3% to $8,159 a ton, having lost 1% last week.

Cocoa investors continue to fear a downturn in demand for the chocolate ingredient thanks to historically high prices.

Dealers said first quarter cocoa grind data, a measure of demand, will likely show steep falls of 5% to 7% later this week.

Brazil's Q1 cocoa grind fell 13% from last year, said industry group AIPC.

Supplies remain tight, however. Farmers in top producer Ivory Coast warned on Monday of mid-crop supply shortages due to dry weather.

Raw sugar SBc1 ​​​settled down 0.13 cents, or 0.7%, at 17.87 cents per lb, having hit a 2-1/2 month low earlier, while white sugar LSUc1 rose 0.8% at $527.40 a ton.