Increased volume of coffee traded at Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) on Tuesday has seen earnings for farmers and coffee estates hit Sh1.9 billion.
During Sale 17 of the current financial year at the NCE, a total of 32, 801 bags of coffee were traded, marking a 13 per cent increase from 28, 971 bags that were sold in the previous week.
The average price per bag of 50 kilos rose by 8 percent to Sh47,564, up from Sh43,945 released in last week’s auction.
This average trading floor price equates to Sh146 per kilo of clean coffee, with farmers expected to receive approximately Sh117 per kilo of coffee delivered to their societies.
Kiawamururu Wet Mills Factory of Nyeri County secured the highest price of Sh57, 645 per 50-kilo bag for a lot of 53 bags of grade AB coffee, while Karumandi factory achieved the second-best price of Sh. 57, 342 per bag of grade AA coffee that was brokered by the Alliance Berries Ltd.
Other factories that achieved better prices for their premium grades per bag include Guama Sh55, 921, Gichuna Estate Sh57, 213, Kangocho Sh56, 696, Karani Sh55, 017, Kangunu Sh53, 855, Gatumbi Sh54, 630, and Ruakiberu Sh53, 726.
Eleven coffee brokers who participated in the auction presented 10, 116 bags of grade AA and 15,505 bags of grade AB, representing 78 per cent of total volume traded.
According to the NCE report, Alliance Berries led 10 other brokers after selling 15, 131 bags of coffee, earning Sh893.4 million. Kirinyaga Slopes Company traded 4,101 bags, fetching Sh236.7 million.
New KPCU earned Sh216.6 million from 3,671 bags, KCCE netted Sh213.1 million for 3, 782 bags, and CEBBL Ltd. traded 546 bags, earning Sh31.3 million.
The NCE report on weekly auctions also indicated that 17 local and international coffee buyers participated in the sale, with C. Dorman buying 6, 576 bags at Sh392.6 million, Ibero Kenya Ltd. getting 5,799 bags at Sh326.1 million, and Sasini purchasing 5, 794 bags at Sh345.2 million.
Other buyers, including Louis Dreyfus, bought 5, 466 bags at Sh316.6 million; Taylor Winch spent Sh262.3 million for 4,558 bags and Kenyacof purchased 2, 179 bags at Sh130.7 million.
In her statement, the NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndung’u noted that the latest auction saw Kenyan coffee maintain its competitive edge with high-quality beans attracting strong prices despite ongoing market fluctuations.
“This auction reinforces the strength of Kenya’s coffee sector. The demand for our high-quality beans remains strong, but we must continue improving quality and market access to ensure farmers receive the best value for their produce,” she said.
Ms. Ndungu added that while high-grade coffee continued to attract strong bids, lower-grade categories such as UG2 and ML recorded relatively lower prices, highlighting the ongoing need for quality enhancement and market stabilisation efforts.
She emphasized the importance of transparency and direct market linkages in strengthening Kenya’s coffee trade.
“By focusing on sustainable and value-driven trade practices, we can enhance farmer earnings and cement Kenya’s position as a global leader in speciality coffee,” remarked the CEO.
Ms. Ndungu further averred that as the coffee auction season progresses, stakeholders remain optimistic about the continued resilience of Kenya’s coffee industry, despite global economic uncertainties and climate-related challenges affecting production.
By Bernard Munyao