Volume of coffee traded at Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) on Tuesday increased by 10 percent earning farmers and estates Sh2.1 billion.
In the sale 19 of the current coffee year, a total of 37,105 bags were traded compared to 33,673 bags sold in last week’s auction.
The average price fell by 6 percent to Sh47,038 per 50 kilo bag, from Sh49,766 per bag realized in last week’s sale.
This average price translates to Sh935.6 per kilogram of clean coffee with farmers expected to be paid Sh115 per kilogram.
According to the NCE reports, Kabingara factory which is part of Karithathi farmers’ cooperative society of Kirinyaga County earned the best price of Sh57,563 per each of 50 bags of grade AA coffee.
Other factories that achieved best prices for their grade AA coffee include Kiang’ondu Sh57,043, Ndimaini Sh56,004, Karogoto Sh55,224 and Gachatha Sh55,224.
Coffee of grades AA and AB comprised 27,586 bags, representing 74 percent of total traded volume.
In the category of brokers, Alliance Berries Ltd traded 15,541 bags netting Sh890.25 million, Kirinyaga Slopes sold 5,648 bags at Sh332 million, while New KPCU sold 4,955 bags earning Sh281.6 million.
Other participating brokers included, CEBBA 653 bags, Kipkelion, 1,629 bags, Murang’a Union 1,180 bags and Kinya Coffee ltd 301 bags among others.
Twenty-one buyers participated in the auction where Ibero Kenya led after purchasing 9,952 bags for Sh566.7 million.
Taylor Winch purchased 6,364 bags at Sh369.5 million, C.Dorman bought 5,895 bags for Sh358. 4 million followed by Louis Drefus Ltd which got 4,831 bags at Sh265.9 million.
In her sentiments, NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndung’u observed that Kenyan coffee has continued to 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, lauding cooperative societies who have embraced the coffee auction.
She emphasized the importance of transparency and direct market linkages in strengthening Kenya’s coffee trade calling farmers to strive to produce high quality coffee that will attract more international buyers.
The CEO noted that in the sale, 11,255 bags of grade AA and 16,331 bags of grade AB earned Sh677.8 million and Sh947.9 million respectively.
By Bernard Munyao
