Cocoa prices rise on expectations of poor Ivory Coast harvest

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York cocoa futures rose on Tuesday, boosted by signs of a poor mid-season crop in top producer Ivory Coast this season, while raw sugar prices rose to a 2-1/2-week high. COCOA * Cocoa in New York rose $194, or 2.5 percent, to $8,021 a metric ton, rebounding from a four-month low hit last week. * Dealers said the market was supported by concerns that dry weather will reduce the size of the mid-season crop in Ivory Coast, the world's top producer, and a slowdown in port arrivals in the world's top producer. * Ivory Coast’s mid-season crop is expected to fall by around 40% this season after an exceptionally long dry season and limited and irregular rains hit crops in key producing regions, exporters and pod counters said. * Many market participants are in Sao Paulo for this year's World Cocoa Foundation meeting on Wednesday and Thursday. * Cocoa in London rose 1.2% to £6,172 a tonne. SUGAR * Raw sugar futures settled up 0.02 cent, or 0.1%, at 19.99 ...