financetom
World
financetom
/
World
/
Cocoa, coffee, sugar prices slide as markets remain rattled by Trump tariffs
News World Market Environment Technology Personal Finance Politics Retail Business Economy Cryptocurrency Forex Stocks Market Commodities
Cocoa, coffee, sugar prices slide as markets remain rattled by Trump tariffs
Apr 4, 2025 6:52 AM

LONDON (Reuters) - World cocoa, coffee and sugar prices slid again on Friday as markets remained rattled by U.S. president Donald Trump's sweeping 'Liberation Day' tariffs, especially after China retaliated with its own tariffs on U.S. imports.

Trump on Wednesday slapped a 10% tariff on most U.S. imports and much higher levies of more than 50% on some counties, prompting a world-wide sell of in stock markets as nations from Canada to China ready retaliation.

"Following this 'liberation', many trade flows from the most affected producers will now enter a labyrinth in order to find demand in other countries," said Rabobank in a report that warned the new demand will come 'at an efficiency cost'.

The bank also said that as 'retaliation day' looms, U.S. consumers of coffee and chocolate should expect more expensive products as top cocoa producer Ivory Coast faces a 21% tariff while No. 2 coffee producer Vietnam faces a 'humbling' 46% levy.

At 1228 GMT, London cocoa futures​ traded on the ICE exchange, seen as a global price benchmark,​ traded down 1.1% to 6,611 pounds per metric ton, having lost 1.5% on Thursday, while New York cocoa fell 2.7% to $9,044 a ton.

Aside from consuming the most chocolate, the U.S. is also the world's top importer of processed cocoa products like butter from the European Union, Malaysia and Indonesia, which now face tariffs of 20%, 24% and 32%, respectively.

While tariffs could hurt U.S. chocolate demand, dealers noted that losses in cocoa prices are somewhat limited by supply concerns, with top producer Ivory Coast expected to record its worst mid-crop in a decade.

Arabica coffee futures, by contrast, slid 3% to $3.7395 per lb, having lost 1% on Thursday, while robusta coffee fell 3% to $5,228 a ton.

The first U.S. tariffs on coffee imports since colonial times will increase costs and complexity to American importers and roasters already struggling to pass on near-record coffee prices, dealers said.

Top global robusta producer Vietnam, facing 46% tariffs, is the third largest supplier of coffee to the U.S., which is in turn the biggest consumer of the caffeinated beverage in the world.

"If applied, the new tariffs could spell the end of Vietnam coffee in the U.S. as it would create significant price gaps with competing robusta origins - a massive 36-percentage-point difference (~$1,944/ton) compared with Brazil," said a dealer.

In other soft commodities traded, raw sugar ​​fell 0.6% to 19 cents per lb, having closed down 2.5% on Thursday, while white sugar fell 0.4% at $541.80 a ton, having lost 1.6% in the prior session.

Comments
Welcome to financetom comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Related Articles >
GLOBAL MARKETS-Stock indexes ease with tech shares while oil prices gain 
GLOBAL MARKETS-Stock indexes ease with tech shares while oil prices gain 
May 18, 2026
* U.S. stock indexes mostly down slightly * Oil prices gain as Iran worries continue * Longer-dated U.S. Treasury yields off recent highs (Updates to midday) By Caroline Valetkevitch and Samuel Indyk NEW YORK/LONDON, May 18 (Reuters) - Major stock indexes mostly eased as technology shares fell on Monday, while oil prices climbed following more worries over supply disruption from...
UK's FTSE 100 climbs on energy boost; inflation woes, political uncertainty in focus
UK's FTSE 100 climbs on energy boost; inflation woes, political uncertainty in focus
May 18, 2026
May 18 (Reuters) - UK's blue-chip FTSE 100 gained on Monday, lifted by energy stocks tracking higher crude oil prices, while the more domestically focused midcap index was subdued amid concerns about inflation and Prime Minister Keir Starmer's future. The FTSE 100 ended 1.3% higher at 10,323.8 points, while the FTSE 250 ended 0.07% lower after falling as much 0.7%...
European Equities Traded in the US as American Depositary Receipts Open Week Tracking Higher in Monday Trading
European Equities Traded in the US as American Depositary Receipts Open Week Tracking Higher in Monday Trading
May 18, 2026
11:11 AM EDT, 05/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- European equities traded in the US as American depositary receipts were heading higher late Monday morning, rising 0.88% to 1,825.10 on the S&P Europe Select ADR Index. From continental Europe, the gainers were led by biotech firm Evaxion ( EVAX ) and healthcare tech company Royal Philips (PHG), which rose 4.6% and 2.9%...
European Stocks Trend Higher in Monday Trading Despite Specter of Middle East War Reigniting
European Stocks Trend Higher in Monday Trading Despite Specter of Middle East War Reigniting
May 18, 2026
11:50 AM EDT, 05/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The European stock markets were tracking higher in Monday trading as oil prices and interest rates track higher, while hostilities in the Middle East appear close to reigniting after President Trump warned Iran that the clock is ticking on a peace deal. The Stoxx Europe was rising 0.4%, Germany's DAX was up 1.3%,...
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.financetom.com All Rights Reserved