Commodities up in '02, outlook uncertain

(LONDON) From oil to gold, cocoa to coffee, world commodity markets enjoyed a better year in 2002 thanks to tentative signs of economic recovery, supply concerns and geopolitical worries.

COFFEE: stirring. After years of declines, coffee prices bounced back this year on expectations of a fall in the Brazilian harvest in 2003/04.

Robusta stood at about US$782 per tonne on LIFFE towards the year end, up from US$380 a year earlier.

Arabica contracts in New York climbed to around 61.45 US cents per pound from 46.50 US cents the previous year.

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