The Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) weekly auction on Tuesday netted Sh1.99 billion after 31,723 bags of coffee, weighing 1,941,703 kilograms, were traded.
The average price for a 50-kilogram bag of coffee during the auction, held at Wakulima House in Nairobi, reached Sh. 51,213, reflecting strong performance across the market. Premium coffee saw heightened competition, with the maximum price hitting Sh. 64,500 per 50-kilo bag.
Notably, 124 bags of grade AA coffee from Gachatha Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Nyeri and 100 bags from Guama Society in Kirinyaga were sold at Sh. 64,500 per bag, purchased by KenyaCof Ltd.
Among brokers, Alliance Berries Ltd traded the highest volume with 14,044 bags valued at Sh. 910.6 million. Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Ltd followed with 4,119 bags worth Sh. 272.8 million, while government-linked New KPCU PLC traded 3,738 bags at Sh. 231 million, reflecting strong buyer demand.
Other active brokers included KCCE Marketing Agency Ltd, which traded 1,950 bags; Kipkelion Broker Company Ltd, 1,747 bags; Minnesota Coffee Marketers Ltd, 1,154 bags; and Kinya Coffee Marketing Agency Ltd, 1,140 bags.
The auction was dominated by premium grades, with 10,743 bags of grade AA fetching Sh. 728 million and 13,702 bags of grade AB raising Sh. 874 million.
On the buyers’ side, demand remained concentrated among major exporters and processors, highlighting the dominance of a few firms in shaping trade volumes at the exchange. Kenyacof Ltd emerged as the largest buyer, purchasing 9,335 bags valued at Sh. 620 million. Taylor Winch (Coffee) Ltd followed with 6,050 bags worth Sh. 360 million, and Ibero Kenya Ltd acquired 5,419 bags valued at Sh. 330 million.
C. Dormans SEZ Ltd purchased 3,591 bags, while Sasini (K) Ltd rounded out the top five buyers with 3,023 bags. Collectively, the top five buyers purchased 27,418 bags, accounting for approximately 86.4 percent of all coffee traded in Sale 13, confirming that a small group of dominant buyers continues to drive price discovery.
The NCE report highlighted that Sale 13 of the 2025/2026 season recorded a significant surge in volumes compared to previous seasons. In the 2023/2024 season, Sale 13 recorded 21,359 bags traded, while in the 2024/2025 season, only 13,990 bags were traded.
“This season’s Sale 13 has surged to 31,723 bags, representing a 48.5 percent increase compared to Sale 13 of 2023/2024 and a 127 percent increase compared to Sale 13 of 2024/2025,” NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndungu wrote.
She added, “Sale 13 of this season will be remembered not just for the date, but for the strong volumes and solid returns it delivered, setting a confident pace for the auctions ahead.”
By Bernard Munyao
