NEW YORK, Feb 28 (Reuters) - U.S. cocoa futures climbed to settle at the highest level in 32 years on Monday, closing the month up 10 percent in its biggest monthly gains in a year-and-a-half, as the conflict in top grower Ivory Coast continued.
Raw sugar finished strong for the third straight day. Arabica coffee futures closed firm, remaining below last week's 34-year high and finishing the month up for the ninth time in the past 10 months.
RAW SUGAR
* The most-active May raw sugar contract <SBK1> gained 0.71 cent or 2.5 percent to close at 29.45 cents per lb.
* Second position <SBc2> finished the month down 6.5 percent, following two straight months of gains.
* March <SBH1> soared 0.99 cent to expire at 32.51 cents.
* Brokers believe actual deliveries against the tape in March would reach nearly 500,000 tonnes.
* The market climbed after key May rebounded from the lows it hit last week.
* "I think the market should trade over 30 cents going forward. We are also now waiting for the next crop from Brazil due out by the end of March and early April," a dealer said.
COFFEE
* May arabica coffee futures <KCc2> gained 3.90 cents or 1.5 percent to settle at $2.7170 per lb.
* The contract finished the month up 10.2 percent, making the ninth monthly gain in the past 10 months.
* Market climbed in light dealings on speculative buying and a lack of origin selling - traders.
* Tight supplies continued to underpin prices, although the market was viewed by some as overbought - traders.
* Total open interest reached 123,088 lots on Feb. 25, the lowest level since March 16, 2010 - ICE data.
* March contract <KCH1> briefly moved to an intraday premium to May, indicating supply concerns, and closed up 4 cents at $2.7170 per lb, at par to May - traders.
COCOA
* Benchmark May cocoa futures <CCc2> jumped $56 or 1.5 percent to close at $3,695 per tonne, the loftiest close since January 1979, after touching a session high at $3,704.
* Second position closed the month up 10 percent, the biggest monthly surge since September 2009.
* May premium to July <CCN1> closed at $61, narrowing from $66 on Friday.
* Total volume light at 8,959 lots, down 59 percent from the 30-day average - preliminary Thomson Reuters data.
* Market continued to climb on supply concerns as top grower Ivory Coast appeared on the brink of civil war and an export ban prevented cocoa from being shipped from ports - traders.
* "Whoever's long, is staying long and whoever's looking for the short isn't coming in." - Jimmy Tintle, analyst with Transworld Futures in Florida.
* The United Nations has accused Belarus of breaking an arms embargo against Ivory Coast by delivering attack helicopters to Laurent Gbagbo, the leader who has resisted three months of pressure to quit after a disputed election. [ID:nLDE71R1LB]
* Stocks of unexported cocoa sitting at ports in top grower Ivory Coast reached 433,296 tonnes by Feb. 7.
source: https://portal.hpd.global.reuters.com/auth/login.aspx
