Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) generated Sh892 million at the weekly auction conducted on Tuesday after 14, 024 bags of coffee equivalent to 892, 141 kilograms were traded.
The volume of coffee traded went up from 12,296 bags which were traded during last week’s auction which netted Sh760 million.
The average price per 50-kilogram bag was Sh50, 324, translating to about Sh154 per kilogram of clean cherry.
Notably, this was the same average price as in Sale 07 of the previous week, indicating that although trading volume increased by 24 percent, the average price held steady.
According to the NCE report on the sale 8 of the current coffee season, the top price achieved was Sh60,181 per bag for 37 bags of AA-grade coffee from the Kiganjo factory, which is part of Thiririka Farmers’ Cooperative Society (FCS) in Kiambu County that was marketed by Alliance Berries Ltd.
In the brokers’ category, Alliance Berries ltd traded the highest volume of 4,091 bags fetching Sh263.5 million, followed by New KPCU with 2,313 bags and Kipkelion with 1,864 bags.
Kirinyaga Slopes which sold 1,215 bags netting Sh80.7 million while Mt. Elgon (897 bags), United Eastern (922 bags), and Kinya Coffee (812 bags) also recorded solid sales and maintained competitive average prices.
Premier grades of AA and AB coffee dominated the auction by 74 percent of the volume traded during the auction.
A total of 5, 092 bags of grade AA were traded earning Sh365.5 million while 5,315 bags of grade AB generated Sh. 340 million.
On the buyers’ side, Ibero Kenya Ltd emerged as the leading purchaser, acquiring 4,235 bags worth over Sh288 million.
C.Dormans SEZ Ltd followed after getting 3,411 bags at Sh230 million, Louis Dreyfus Company bought 1,798 bags at Sh110 million and Sasini (K) limited purchased 1,725 bags at Sh106 million.
First Cup Coffee Ltd recorded the smallest volume, buying 10 bags of grade AB at an average price of Sh51,490.
According to NCE Chief Executive Officer Ms Lisper Ndung’u the auction has been witnessing increased volume of premier coffee qualities saying this has attracted better prices for cherry.
She challenged FCS and management of coffee estates to continue training farmers on best practices on coffee husbandry which will result in increased coffee production and high quality of cherry.
By Bernard Munyao
