Nairobi Coffee Auction Nets Sh1.6 Billion as Premium Quality Coffee Dominates Sales

Coffee from cooperative societies and estates traded at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange on Tuesday brought in Sh1.6 billion. A total of 28,971 50-kilo bags of coffee were sold, marking a 4% increase from the 27,864 bags sold during last week’s auction.

The average price per bag dropped slightly to Sh43,911 from Sh44,944 in the previous sale. This equates to Sh134 per kilo of cherry gross (clean coffee), with farmers expected to receive about Sh107 per kilo of delivered coffee.

Gachatha Factory in Nyeri County achieved the highest price, earning Sh57,364 for each of its 33 bags of grade AA, followed by Gathiga Factory, which sold its 32 bags of grade AA for Sh55,426 each. Kahunyo Factory earned Sh54,522 for 25 bags of grade AA, and Marumi Factory in Murang’a received Sh52,196 per bag for 3 bags, all brokered by Alliance Berries Limited. Kaguyu Factory, brokered by Kirinyaga Slopes Company, earned Sh50,646 per bag for 39 bags of grade AA coffee.

In total, premium grades AA and AM made up 22,608 bags, or 78% of the total volume traded, bringing in Sh471.7 million.

Among brokers, Alliance Berries Ltd led with 14,805 bags sold for Sh788 million, followed by Kirinyaga Slopes Company, which traded 3,474 bags for Sh193.1 million. New KPCU sold 3,128 bags for Sh165.5 million, KCCE Marketing Agents handled 2,837 bags for Sh156.7 million, and Kipkelion Ltd sold 1,759 bags for Sh0.96 million.

In the dealer category, C-Dorman Ltd led with 10,614 bags purchased, followed by Ibero Kenya Ltd with 6,657 bags, Taylor Winch with 5,448 bags, Louis Dreyfus with 2,252 bags, and Sondhi Trading Ltd with 1,491 bags, among others.

Coffee industry stakeholders have urged farmers to focus on producing high-quality coffee to secure higher prices at auctions. NCE CEO Lisper Ndungu pointed out that coffee prices have continued to rise as cooperative societies work to promote premium cherry quality. She emphasized that international buyers are drawn to high-quality coffee and encouraged cooperative societies to help farmers improve both production and quality.