US coffee futures fell Friday for the third day running as market players sold on long-term crop output prospects from No 1 producer Brazil, rather than fret about short-term crop damage in Central America, traders said.

The New York Board of Trade's active December arabica slid 1.80 cents or 1.8 percent to settle at 98.35 cents a lb, the lowest finish since October 7 when the benchmark contract settled at 94.85 cents.

December delivery has fallen almost 7 percent from its peak of $1.0525 earlier this week to today's low of 97.90 cents.

Copyright Reuters, 2005