November Robusta Futures Rise $21 to $2,048 per Ton

Coffee traders were watching futures markets closely as key numbers shifted in response to shifting supply expectations—especially for Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer. The focus was on how dry weather might have damaged crops, and how those fears translated into price movements for both Robusta and Arabica contracts.

In short: November Robusta coffee futures on the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE) rose $21, or 1%, to settle at $2,048 per metric ton. That’s the key figure driving today’s market news.

What Moved the November Robusta Contract?

On August 28, the November Robusta coffee futures contract gained $21, equivalent to a 1% increase. This pushed the settlement price to $2,048 per ton on LIFFE. While the move wasn’t huge in percentage terms, it reflected ongoing market sensitivity to supply-side signals—particularly from Brazil.

Why Were Arabica Futures Also in Focus?

Over on ICE Futures U.S., December Arabica coffee futures also saw movement, climbing 0.70 cent, or 0.4%, to close at $1.9815 per pound. During the session, the contract hit a four-week high of $2.0270. The upward push came amid persistent worries that Brazil’s 2015/16 coffee crop could fall short due to earlier drought conditions.

What’s the Latest on Brazil’s Coffee Output?

Two industry sources reported that influential commodity trader Neumann now forecasts Brazil’s 2015/16 coffee production at 45 million 60-kilogram bags. That’s down from its previous estimate of 47.7 million bags. Such a downgrade reinforces concerns that the dry weather earlier in the year may have caused long-term damage to coffee trees, tightening future supplies of both Arabica and Robusta.

What About Other Commodities Traded That Day?

Beyond coffee, cocoa and sugar futures also shifted:

• Liffe December cocoa futures fell 12 British pounds, or 0.6%, closing at £2,024 per ton. Earlier, the contract had spiked to its highest level since May 2011 in the opening minute of trade.
• Liffe October white sugar futures dropped $2.40, or 0.6%, to $426.30 per ton.

Frequently Asked Questions

What were the final settlement prices for November Robusta coffee futures?

The November Robusta coffee futures contract settled at $2,048 per metric ton on the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange (LIFFE), up $21 or 1% from the previous close.

How much did December Arabica coffee futures rise?

December Arabica coffee futures gained 0.70 cent per pound, or 0.4%, closing at $1.9815 per pound. The contract hit a four-week high of $2.0270 during the session.

Why are traders concerned about Brazil’s coffee production?

Traders are worried that dry weather earlier in 2015 may have caused lasting damage to coffee trees in Brazil, the world’s top coffee producer. This could reduce the 2015/16 harvest significantly.

What is Neumann’s revised forecast for Brazil’s 2015/16 coffee output?

Neumann, a major global trading firm, now expects Brazil to produce 45 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee in 2015/16, down from its earlier projection of 47.7 million bags.

What happened to cocoa and sugar futures on the same day?

December cocoa futures fell 12 British pounds (0.6%) to £2,024 per ton, after briefly hitting a 2011 high. October white sugar futures dropped $2.40 (0.6%) to $426.30 per ton.