Nov. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Brazil’s Coffee Crops Seen Needing More Rain as Drought Persists

Light rains this week won’t soak growing areas, leaving subsoil moisture low, Drew Lerner, the president of World Weather Inc. in Overland Park, Kan., says today in report.

“The most stressful conditions have been abating and will continue to do so, but the region’s drought is not over due to limited subsoil moisture and poor water supply”

“Any notable period of drier-biased weather would be quick to return crop stress in coffee areas, and until big soaking rains occur, the situation should not be interpreted as being fine”

Following wkend precipitation, rain will fall periodically this wk from south Minas Gerais into Bahia with southern areas getting sparse moisture

By Nov. 13-15, additional showers and thunderstorms will occur in south Minas, Zona da Mata and Rio de Janeiro and portions of Espirito Santo, with daily amounts expected from 13mm (0.5 inches) to 30mm

Intensity will diminish as rain shifts north Nov. 15-20 with  3mm to 15mm expected

NOTE: Brazil is world’s top coffee grower and exporter

NOTE: Through Nov. 7, arabica futures in N.Y. surged 69% in 2014 as drought damaged Brazil crop prospects this yr and next

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