NEW YORK, March 15 (Reuters) - Soft commodities trading on ICE Futures U.S. tumbled across the board Tuesday on continued risk aversion as thethird biggest consumer Japan's nuclear crisis grew.
Arabica futures closed down for the fourth straight day at a one-month low, falling further from last week's 34-year high. Raw sugar closed down 7.7 percent at a 5-month low and cocoa finished at the lowest level in 5 weeks.
COFFEE
* May arabica coffee futures tumbled to close down 10.35 cents, or 3.8 percent, at $2.6295 per lb, its lowest settlement since Feb. 16.
* Market tumbled in heavy volume, as risk aversion hit the commodity complex - traders.
* Market viewed as due for a correction lower, after hitting a 34-year high last week at $2.9665 per lb, basis second position - traders.
* If May closes below $2.60 will indicate an end to the recent uptrend - traders.
* Tight global supplies of washed arabica beans continue to be seen as a bullish factor and underpinning support - traders.
* Coffee stocks, already at the lowest levels since the International Coffee Organization began keeping records in 1965, may fall further - ICO Chief Economist Denis Seudieu.
COCOA
* Benchmark May cocoa futures sank $134, or 4 percent, to close at $3,255, the lowest settlement since Feb. 7.
* May narrowed significantly to close at a $9 premium to July , from $30 the previous session.
* Market tumbled in heavy volume on pressure from the macroeconomic picture that caused long liquidation across the commodity complex - traders.
* A closely followed, independent analyst released a global supply report projecting a huge global supply surplus of nearly 200,000 tonnes, may have added additional pressure - dealers.
* Gunmen shot dead four people near a roadblock run by youth supporters
of Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo in the Abidjan suburb of Deux Plateau - witnesses.
* Swiss premium chocolate maker Lindt & Spruengli said strong demand for its Lindor pralines and gold foil-wrapped Easter bunnies meant it was aiming for 2011 sales growth of 6-8 percent in local currencies. *****
