The Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) this week recorded strong trading activity after 18,089 bags of coffee weighing 1.115 million kilogrammes (1,115 tons) was sold for Sh994 million during Sale 34, reflecting sustained demand for Kenyan coffee in the international market.
The auction posted an average price of Sh44,503 per 50-kilogramme bag, with premium grades continuing to command the highest returns as buyers competed for quality produce from leading coffee-growing regions.
Grade AA coffee remained the top performer, with 1,738 bags sold for Sh107.8 million, while 7,761 bags of grade AB fetched Sh461.1 million, accounting for the largest share of the day’s earnings.
Ngugu-ini Factory in Kirinyaga County recorded the highest price of the auction after its grade AA coffee sold at Sh53,041 per 50-kilogramme bag.
Muisuni Farmers’ Co-operative Society from Machakos County emerged second after its coffee fetched Sh52, 912 per bag, demonstrating that well-managed coffee from the lower eastern growing belt can compete with traditional high-altitude producing areas.
Kiriaini Factory in Kirinyaga County secured the third-best price after its coffee sold at Sh52,653 per bag.
Fifteen licensed marketing agents presented coffee for sale during the auction, with New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (New KPCU) handling the largest volume.
New KPCU traded 4,907 bags weighing 300,835 kilogrammes valued at Sh267.9 million, reaffirming its position as one of the country’s leading coffee marketing agents.
Alliance Berries Limited followed closely after selling 4,000 bags weighing 247,966 kilogrammes for Sh233.2 million, largely driven by quality coffee from Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Murang’a counties.
Coffee Estates Bourgeoisie Brokers marketed 2,140 bags worth Sh. 106 million, while Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage sold 1,726 bags valued at Sh94.3 million.
Meru County Coffee Marketing Agency completed the top five marketers after trading 1,288 bags that realized Sh75.9 million.
On the buying side, C. Dorman SEZ Limited dominated the auction, purchasing coffee worth Sh 412.5 million.
The company acquired 425,021 kilogrammes, representing about 38 percent of the volume offered and approximately 42 percent of the total value traded.
Ibero Kenya Limited was the second-largest buyer after purchasing 3,790 bags valued at Sh. 208.5 million, while Kenyacof Limited acquired 2,107 bags worth Sh112.1 million.
Louis Dreyfus Company also featured among the leading buyers after purchasing 1,039 bags valued at Sh52.5 million.
The weekly Nairobi Coffee Exchange auction remains the country’s principal coffee marketing platform, bringing together licensed marketing agents and international buyers through a transparent price discovery system.
Coffee remains one of Kenya’s leading foreign exchange earners, with prices at the exchange largely determined by bean quality, cup profile, global demand and prevailing international market conditions.
The strong performance recorded during Sale 34 is expected to boost farmers’ earnings, particularly those who delivered high-quality coffee, as stakeholders continue to encourage improved husbandry practices and quality processing to maximize returns from the crop.
By Bernard Munyao
