Ouattara forces open two new fronts in Ivory Coast

ABIDJAN, March 28, 2011 - Former rebels controlling the north of Ivory Coast opened up two new fronts on Monday, and heavy clashes broke out in a western cocoa-producing area as a bid to force incumbent Laurent Gbagbo from power escalated.

Rebels who seized the north in the 2002-3 civil war and now back Alassane Ouattara, Gbagbo's rival and the man recognised as president by most world leaders, on Monday advanced on Duekoue, which had previously remained under Gbagbo's control.

Ivorian cocoa arrivals grind to a near halt

ABIDJAN, March 28 (Reuters) - Cocoa arrivals in top grower Ivory Coast were grinding to a halt from the week from March 14 to March 20, with just 17 tonnes reaching its two at ports in that period, compared with 8,525 tonnes in the same week of the previous season.

Only 3,393 beans were declared by exporters at the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro for that week, which brought the total arrivals to 1,040,591 tonnes by March 20, according to data from the Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) seen by Reuters on Monday.

Ivorian cocoa arrivals at 1,040,591 T by March 20-BCC

ABIDJAN, March 28, 2011 - Cocoa arrivals at ports in top grower Ivory Coast reached 1,040,591 tonnes by March 20, up from 878,679 tonnes in the same period a year ago, according to data from the Coffee and Cocoa Bourse (BCC) seen by Reuters on Monday.

The figures showed around 3,393 beans were declared by exporters at the ports of Abidjan and San Pedro from March 14 to March 20 -- all except 17 tonnes of them were late declarations from previous weeks.

The figure was down from 8,525 tonnes declared in the same week of the 2009/2010 season.------

NY Coffee, Cocoa & Sugar market close review for today, March 28, 2011

NEW YORK, March 28 (Reuters) - Raw sugar futures settled lower on Monday, pressured by a weak commodity complex and as Libyan rebels advanced toward an important military base, while arabica coffee also finished lower.

U.S. cocoa inched higher in thin dealings as dealers were uncertain whether the Ivorian export ban would be lifted this week. Volume was light in all three markets.

RAW SUGAR

* Benchmark May raw sugar contract dropped 0.81 cent  or 3 percent to finish at 27.05 cents per lb.

Nestlé: getting closer to farmers

As the world’s biggest food producer, Nestlé is grappling with giant-sized versions of two challenges faced by every one of its peers: high commodity prices and the management of complex supply chains, which are extending ever deeper into emerging markets.

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, the company’s chairman, told beyondbrics that part of its solution is to build direct relationships with individual farmers across Africa, Asia and Latin America. It already has ties with 600,000 small farmers and it wants to double the proportion of coffee and cocoa they supply over the next five years from its current 7-10 per cent range.

DTN-Indonesia and Malaysia Cocoa Coffee Weather

As of 22:01 GMT, 27 MAR 2011

NDONESIA

SUMMARY- Periods of rain, showers and thundershowers over the weekend,0.10-2.00+ inches (3-51+ mm). Temperatures 77-94F (25-34C).

FORECAST-

TODAY...Numerous showers and thundershowers, rainfall amounts 0.10-1.50+ inches (3-38+ mm). Temperatures 78-94F (26-35C).

TONIGHT...Showers diminish overnight.

Coffee is not good beverages for those people

As we all know, coffee, tea and cocoa are three primary drinks in the planet. In the western countries, coffee has at minimum 3-hundred years of heritage. Most folks know the shepherd tale which is about the origin of coffee. In the sixteenth century, early traders introduced coffee as a beverage to the westerner's day-to-day existence. Therefore, individuals from The united states and Canada love coffee than other drinks. But coffee is not a drink agreed with everyone.

Do you know the strengths of coffee even you drink it every day? It is well-acknowledged that coffee has the refreshment effect. When you are out of spirit, you could drink a cup of coffee to refresh your brain. It will make you really feel reenergized. That is simply because coffee beans represent a huge source of caffeine which can acts on the central nervous technique to elicit stimulating results. And coffee can help to avert cirrhosis and gallstones. When you get a headache, it is great to drink a coffee. A analysis demonstrates in India demonstrates that coffee can defend your wellness from the hurt of radiation.