* Consumption growth triggers robusta coffee deficit
* Cocoa supported by turmoil in top grower Ivory Coast
* Sugar market awaits news on Indian exports
(Updates throughout, adds comment)
LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Robusta coffee futures climbed to a fresh 2-1/2 year high on Monday as the market retained its strong upward momentum, dealers said.
Cocoa futures on Liffe rose to 7-month high as the market eyed the deepening crisis in top grower Ivory Coast. White sugar eased slightly as physical demand remained slow following the recent run-up in prices.
ICE markets were shut on Monday for U.S. Presidents' Day.
"There's a lot of positive sentiment towards the coffee market," Andrea Thompson, analyst at CoffeeNetwork said, noting consumption growth was pushing the robusta market into deficit.
May robusta coffee stood $33 or 1.4 percent higher at $2,370 a tonne at 1256 GMT. It had earlier peaked at $2,372, the highest level for the second month since July 2008.
The advance in coffee has been led by ICE arabica futures which gained 7.1 percent last week and rose to the highest levels since May 1997, boosted by tight supplies following several below-par harvests in key producer Colombia.
High arabica prices have encouraged roasters to increase the volume of cheaper robusta beans in blends where possible.
"2010-11 should have been the third consecutive global surplus for robusta but it's now looking at a deficit. The Vietnam crop is fairly stable, it's really more the consumption growth (driving the deficit)," Thompson said.
Vietnam is the world's top producer of robusta coffee.
Brazil, the world's biggest coffee producer, is holding back its big bean stocks and hoping for improved market conditions in a wager that world prices will keep on rising, its top coffee official said on Friday.
CIVILIAN DEATHS
Cocoa futures rose as tensions in Ivory Coast showed no sign of easing, heightening concern about supply from the world's top grower.
Ivorian security forces killed at least three civilians when they opened fire to disperse gatherings in an Abidjan district on Sunday, and African leaders ended meetings to resolve a three-month post-election stand-off.
European Union sanctions and an export ban imposed by presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara have severely disrupted shipments of cocoa out of Ivory Coast.
"Restriction to flow of cocoa from the ports is no doubt having an effect with numbers ranging from 200-300,000 tonnes going nowhere, although allegedly smuggling is taking place," a London-based broker said.
May cocoa on Liffe was up 17 pounds at 2,280 pounds a tonne after earlier touching 2,297 pounds, the highest level for the second month since July 2010.
White sugar futures were slightly lower on a slowdown in nearby demand while a decision from India on whether to export 500,000 tonnes under Open General License (OGL) continued to be keenly awaited.
"Pressure this morning on whites may be a reflection of this (possible Indian exports), although we hear of no firm decision being taken," Sucden Financial said in a market note on Monday.
May whites fell a marginal $0.80 to $719.80 a tonne with prices now far below a record peak for the front month of $857.00 set on Feb. 2.
Dealers said a major short-term focus was the expiry of March raw sugar futures on ICE on February 28.
"End users may perhaps be awaiting the March expiry before acting, maybe hoping for a further breakdown in values," Sucden Financial said.
SOURCE: http://www.futurespros.com/news/softs-news/softs-robusta-coffee-hits-2-1-2-year-high,-demand-strong-1000007802
