NEW YORK, May 30 (Reuters) - The Intercontinental

Exchange ( ICE ) , which operates the arabica coffee futures

that are the global price benchmark for that type of coffee,

will change the way those contracts are offered in coming

months, according to an ICE statement.

The exchange said late on Thursday that it would cease to

offer the current form of the futures contracts, which are

quoted in cents of a dollar per pound, and would start offering

new contracts to be priced in dollars per metric ton.

The March 2028 contract will be the final one under the

current format. When that expires, around March 2028, all

contracts will be quoted in dollars per metric ton.

"The exchange plans to introduce new arabica coffee futures

and options contracts that are priced in metric tons later this

year," the statement said.

ICE said the new contract would allow for coffee to be

stored in flexible intermediate bulk containers, commonly known

in the market as big bags, which usually can carry around 1

metric ton of product.

Some coffee producing companies, co-ops and traders already

use the big bags to store and transport coffee, instead of the

traditional 60-kg jute bags.

The exchange provided details about the end of listing of

several contracts, which can be checked here.