Robusta coffee hits 3-week high, arabica also up

Robusta coffee futures on ICE rose to a three-week high on Wednesday as forecasts for largely dry weather in Vietnam renewed crop concerns, while arabica prices also advanced.

COFFEE

* July robusta coffee RRC2! rose 2.3% to $3,820 a ton by 1023 GMT after setting a three-week high of $3,881.

* Dealers said forecasts indicated there would be little rain in top robusta producer Vietnam during the next week, triggering renewed concerns about dry conditions.

* Farmers in Vietnam also appear reluctant to sell, ensuring supplies remain tight.

* July arabica coffee KC1! rose 1.15% to $2.1970 per lb.

* Dealers said there were some quality concerns in Brazil, where the harvest is in its early stages.

SUGAR

* July raw sugar SB1! fell 0.1% to 18.54 cents per lb.

* Dealers said the market was consolidating just above last week's 18-month low of 17.95 cents, with prices holding in a fairly narrow range during the last couple of sessions.

* The strong pace of cane crushing in Centre-South Brazil has helped to put the market on the defensive while data is likely to be issued next week by industry group Unica covering the first half of May.

* August white sugar SF1! fell 0.05% to $544.20 a ton.

COCOA

* July London cocoa CC1! rose 0.8% to 6,160 pounds a metric ton.

* July New York cocoa CC1! rose 0.2% to $7,407 a ton.