Coffee Futures Swing on Central America Concerns, Export Outlook

Arabica-coffee futures fluctuated after reaching a nine-week high as traders weighed hurricane damage to crops in Central America and forecasts for higher exports from Columbia and India. Cocoa prices capped the longest rally in 11 weeks.

Hurricane Iota slammed parts of Central America this week with torrential rain and powerful wind. In the storm’s path were Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, expected to account for 12% of global arabica production in the 2020-21 marketing year, U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts show. The biggest coffee cooperative in Brazil, the world’s top producer and exporter, said 2021 output may drop significantly because ...