Sh1.8 billion was generated after an auction of 30,374 bags of coffee during the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) Sale 11 of the current season conducted on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
According to the NCE report, the auction delivered strong volumes, firm prices and a standout premium lot that underscored the resilience of Kenya’s coffee market as NCE wrapped up its final auction before the Christmas recess.
The market settled at an average price of Sh50,290 per 50-kilogram bag, translating to roughly Sh155 per kilogram of cherry, a level that reflects steady demand despite the seasonal close.
NCE reports reflected that coffee brokers offered 11,100 bags of grade AA that fetched Sh732.6 million, followed by 13,402 bags of grade AB sold for Sh830.8 million and 1,904 bags of grade C that sold at Sh109.9 million.
Gititu Farmers’ Co-operative Society of Kiambu County attained the best prices after selling 44 bags of grade AA coffee at Sh62,392 per bag.
The market report also indicated that the Gatomboya factory of Nyeri, which also presented 44 bags of grade AA netted Sh61,490 per bag.
Marimira factory, affiliated with the Iyego cooperative society of Murang’a County, auctioned 24 bags of grade AA each at Sh58,267.
In the category of brokers, Alliance Berries dominated the Sale after auctioning the highest volume of 11,709 bags of coffee for Sh760.8 million.
New KPCU followed with 3,306 bags, which fetched Sh204 million; Kirinyaga Slopes traded 2,694 bags at Sh166.8 million; CEBBA offered 1,987 bags, netting Sh112.2 million, KCCE auctioned 1,462 bags, fetching Sh89.8 million, among others.
On the dealers’ side, exporter participation remained strong and highly concentrated, with Ibero Kenya Ltd emerging as the leading buyer after purchasing 7,582 bags valued at Sh461 million.
Ibero was followed by C. Dormans SEZ Ltd with 5,181 bags worth Sh351 million and Taylor Winch (Coffee) Ltd with 4,761 bags valued at Sh292.3 million.
Others include Sasini (K) Ltd with 4,220 bags worth Sh265 million and Kenyacof Ltd with 3,923 bags valued at Sh236.6 million.
The five dealer companies collectively purchased about 85 percent of the coffee offered in the auction.
According to the NCE Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Lisper Ndungu, the results of the market reaffirmed global buyers’ appetite for traceable, certified, and high-quality Kenyan coffees.
“With strong volumes and a resilient market average, the auction brought the pre-Christmas trading window to a confident close,” she stated.
Coffee trading at the NCE is slated to resume on January 6 next year, with market players expecting the New Year to open on similarly firm footing.
The strong finish to 2025 sets an optimistic tone for what many hope will be another solid season for Kenya’s coffee sector.
By Bernard Munyao
