29 August 2010

BRASIL/COLOMBIA: Coffee Futures Near 13-Year High.

WSJ/       Coffee futures have hovered near a 13-year high because of tight supplies and the prospect of dry weather in Brasil. Beans from Colombia, the largest producer, won't come to market until November and December. Speculators are watching Colombia's output, which was cut 30% last year by bad weather that also reduced Central American supplies. There have been unusually heavy rains in many areas this year. In Brasil, dry conditions can actually stress coffee bushes. "If it's just dry ... then it's not going to be an issue," a coffee analyst said. "What's bad is when you get heavy rains and then it turns dry and stays dry."