By B, KNA
Trading at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) this week remained strong with 12, 762 bags of coffee fetching Sh847 million.
In the weekly auction conducted at Ukulima House, Nairobi, the average price stood at Sh53, 206.7 per 50-kilo bag of cherry.
Gakuyuini factory, which is part of Thirikwa Farmers’ Cooperative Society (FCS), fetched the best price after selling 10 bags of grade AA at Sh66, 219 per bag.
According to the reports of NCE, a total of 186 bags equivalent to 1.5 percent of all volumes traded, fetched Sh64,415and above per bag.
Also the NCE report on the Sale 39 of the current coffee year, which is ending this month showed 752 bags of grade AA that were bought for Sh59.6 million and 5,042 bags of grade AB for Sh346 million
In the category of brokers, Alliance Berries Ltd led the pack in both price and volume, selling a total of 4,929 bags at an average of Sh54,624 per bag.
New KPCU PLC held the second-largest market share with 1,679 bags translating to 13.6 percent of total volume traded and attaining 13.7 percent of value, maintaining a competitive average price of Sh53,437 with their highest price reaching Sh65,574.
KCCE Marketing Agency Limited captured 12.4 percent of both bags and value with 1,526 bags traded at an average price of Sh52,949.
The NCE reports further indicated that Kipkelion Broker Company Ltd stood out for achieving the second-highest average price at Sh53,593 despite controlling only 6.6 percent (817 bags) of traded volume in the market.
Minnesota Coffee Marketers Limited held 6.3 percent of the auctioned bags, but had the lowest average price at Sh50,501 and the widest price range from Sh5,560 to Sh59,777, indicating they dealt with a broader spectrum of coffee qualities from premium to lower-grade offerings.
In the dealer category, Ibero Kenya Ltd emerged as the clear market leader, purchasing 5,187 bags representing an impressive 41 percent of the total volume traded at Sh340.4 million.
C. Dormans SEZ Ltd secured the second-largest position after spending Sh156.3 million to purchase 2,244 bags, accounting for 17.6 percent of the total purchases.
Taylor Winch (Coffee) Limited followed with 1,908 bags, capturing 15 percent of the market and Kenyacof Limited acquired 1,456 bags representing 11.4 percent of total volume.
Louis Dreyfus Company rounded out the top five after purchasing 663 bags, comprising 5.2 percent of purchases.
The five major dealers controlled 89.8 percent of the entire auction volume, while the Rockbern Coffee Group Ltd was the smallest participant, purchasing only 3 bags, representing just 0.02 percent of total volume.