Nairobi: Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) has continued to attract lucrative earnings after netting Sh. 1 billion in this week’s auction conducted on Tuesday.
According to Kenya News Agency, the auction conducted at Ukulima House in Nairobi exhibited robust trading activity, characterized by significant volumes and values.
The total volume of coffee traded on the day reached 14,726 bags, weighing 913,199 kilograms. The sale of the current coffee year achieved a maximum price of Sh. 69,208 per 50-kilo bag for 10 bags of grade AA coffee sourced from Ruarai Factory, which is part of Ruthaka Farmers’ Cooperative Society (FCS) in Nyeri County. The same factory also had another two lots of eight bags bought at Sh. 68,179 per bag and four bags at Sh. 64,577.
Other factories that earned better prices include Ndaroini, which sold seven bags of grade AA at Sh. 68,179 per bag, and Utooni factory affiliated with New Mitaboni in Machakos FCS, with seven bags at Sh. 68,822 per bag. Mukuyuni FCS Machakos sold each of 23 bags of grade at Sh. 67,535. One lot of Kangunu factory in Murang’a with 11 bags fetched Sh. 67,535 per bag, the Kangeta factory, which is part of Ingento FCS in Meru, earned Sh. 68,693 for each of five bags, and the Mukengeria factory in Kirinyaga with five bags at Sh. 67,664 per bag.
In the auction, a total of 582 bags, or 4 percent of the volume traded, fetched more than Sh. 64,319 per bag, thus translating to Sh. 1,287 per kilo. The overall average price across all grades stood at Sh. 54,917 per 50-kilo bag, or Sh. 1,093 per kilo. This was three percent higher than the average price attained during last week’s auction.
In the category of brokers, Alliance Berries Ltd led the pack by auctioning 5,032 bags, earning Sh. 350.6 million. New KPCU sold 2,999 bags at Sh. 211.3 million, Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee brokerage company fetched Sh. 91.8 million for the 1,367 bags it traded, and CEBBA Company got Sh. 50.4 million after the sale of 754 bags.
The auction attracted 15 local and international dealers, with Ibero Kenya Ltd purchasing the highest volume of 4,120 bags of coffee at Sh. 274.8 million. C.Dormans SEZ Ltd bought 3,750 bags at Sh. 271.2 million, Taylor Winch Company acquired 2,463 bags of coffee at Sh. 174 million, while Louis Dreyfus Ltd purchased 1,805 bags at Sh. 190.1 million.
A coffee farmer, Peter Gikonyo, who spoke to KNA via phone, said since the coffee year 2024/2025 started in October last year, this week’s auction registered impressive prices. He attributed the better prices to the improved quality of coffee being auctioned, urging farmers to focus on increased production and quality. “Better coffee quality usually attracts many international buyers, and it’s a challenge to us to ensure we produce high-quality coffee as well as increase the volumes,” he added.
