* Cocoa prices expected to weaken further
* Robusta, arabica coffee exports seen ample
* Spot raw sugar seen in 26-28 cents/lb range (Updates prices, adds graphics links)
By Marcy Nicholson and Sarah McFarlane
NEW YORK/LONDON, April 5 (Reuters) - ICE cocoa futures closed lower in heavy volume on Tuesday, as the embattled leader in top producer Ivory Coast negotiated the terms of his departure, which would allow exports to resume soon.
ICE arabica coffee futures surged in its biggest one-day percentage gain in five months on a flurry of short-covering in heavy volume that was nearly double the average.
Raw sugar futures eased, under pressure from a stronger dollar and weaker oil prices.
Ivory Coast's Laurent Gbagbo was negotiating the terms of his surrender following a fierce assault by forces loyal to his rival, backed by U.N. and French helicopter airstrikes.
ICE May cocoa closed down $45 at $2,975 a tonne, while Liffe May cocoa finished off 44 pounds at 1,912 pounds per tonne.
Dealers said the developments in Ivory Coast could lead to further losses in the cocoa market as exports, banned for more than two months, are expected to resume within weeks, if Gbagbo leaves.
"I expect prices to weaken but I don't expect them to fall off a cliff ... the sell-off that we saw last week reduced an awful lot of the long exposure," said Jonathan Parkman, joint head of agriculture at Marex Financial Ltd in London.
"Since the election, fundamentals have definitely become more bearish, which is important in trying to determine where prices might end up," Parkman said, adding he expects London prices to fall to between 1,700 and 1,800 pounds a tonne.McDougall, vice president of brokers Newedge USA.
Cocoa prices have fallen 23 percent since hitting a 32-year high at $3,775 per tonne a month ago.
In Ivory Coast, forces loyal to presidential claimant Alassane Ouattara launched an offensive that brought them to Gbagbo's doorstep.
They captured the key cocoa-exporting port of San Pedro, where about one-half of the country's bean exports are shipped out. Traders said that indicated supplies were likely to flow out soon, dispelling fears of supply disruptions.
Dealers voiced concerns over stores of about 500,000 tonnes of cocoa believed to have accumulated in Ivory Coast while exports are banned.
"Once the fighting has stopped, within 10 or 15 days you'll probably get cocoa coming out, vessels are being lined up. San Pedro presumably could start sooner because they ought to be making the preparations now," a Europe-based fund analyst said.
The European Union said it was ready to move rapidly to remove sanctions on Ivory Coast once power is handed over to Ouattara.
COFFEE EXPORTS
Arabica coffee futures surged in the highest volume since Feb. 15 above 30,000 lots on waves of short-covering and fresh buying after triggering key support levels $2.5780 and $2.6235, basis May, dealers said.
ICE May arabicas jumped 12.20 cents or 4.8 percent to close at $2.6825 per lb, in the biggest one-day percentage change since November 2010. Liffe July robustas closed up $90, or 3.9 percent, at $2,398 per tonne.because of chart patterns and macro pullback, but the market was deep into roaster support and eventually trade and fund shorts started to cover," one dealer said.
Raw sugar futures were softer on investor sales, but players were content to wait for more news on the upcoming cane harvest of Brazil's prime center-south region.
Newedge's McDougall said the focus in the market will be on how much sugar will be delivered when London's May white sugar contract goes off the board on April 15.
ICE May raw sugar fell 0.45 cent to close at 27.55 cents per lb, while Liffe May white sugar finished up $6.10 at $722.30 per tonne.
Nick Penney of broker Sucden Financial said, "We are testing the upper end of the recent range in both markets (whites and raws) and should there be a failure to make headway, we suspect that given the better medium/long term picture, values may retrace sharply." * Prices as of 1841 GMT Product Last Change Pct Move End 2010 Ytd Pct ICE sugar 27.51 -0.49 -1.75 32.12 -14.35 ICE coffee 270.40 11.70 +4.52 241.80 11.83 ICE cocoa 2986.00 -53.00 -1.74 3052.00 -2.16 Liffe sugar 722.80 6.60 +0.92 777.50 -7.04 Liffe coffee 2398.00 90.00 +3.90 2097.00 14.35 Liffe cocoa 1909.00 -46.00 -2.35 2029.00 -5.91 CRB index 362.97 0.79 +0.22 332.80 9.07 Crude oil 108.21 -0.26 -0.24 91.38 18.42 Euro/dlr 1.42 0.00 +0.01 1.34 6.30 * ICE sugar and ICE coffee in cents per lb, ICE cocoa, Liffe sugar and Liffe coffee in dollars per tonne. Liffe cocoa in pounds per tonne.