The Mountain Journal
Thirteen coffee buyers bought 11,480 bags of coffee at Sh471,279,861 during the weekly auction at Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE).
The proceeds at the first auction in the coffee year 2024/2025 was lower compared to the previous of Sh566.3 million after selling 13,937 bags of the commodity.
In the market Kikambuani factory affiliated to Mbilini cooperative society in Machakos sold by New KPCU achieved the highest price of 39,572 for each bag of AA grade.
Nyeri Gichatha ini factory whose coffee sold by Alliance Berries Limited achieved the second best Sh38,927 for its AA quality grades.
NCE CEO Ms Lisper Ndung’u said 13 local and international buyers participated in the market with Louis Dreyfus purchasing 4,243 bags of coffee for Sh 173,358,380, followed by Ibero Kenya 3,180 bags for Sh126,749,138.
Ms Ndung’u said 11 coffee brokers led by Alliance Berries Limited, New KPCU and Minnesota presented the highest number of bags in the market.
“ The coffee brokers presented 7,000 bags of grade AA and AB that attracted the buyers. As the regulator I plead with the farmers in the counties to increase production of the quality grades that are in high demand,” said Ndung’u.
Cooperative Principal Secretary Patrick Kilemi said in the new coffee year the farmers are expected to double their efforts in production of quality grades.
He said last coffee year earned the country Sh24.3 billion from the sale of 691,956 bags of coffee.
In the first auction, the PS say quality grades amounted to 61 percent that the coffee brokers presented for sale.
“ The government is working towards exploring new coffee markets and thus need for the growers to increase production to 800,000 bags in 2024/2025,” said Mr Kilemi.
In the auction, Alliance Berries Limited sold 4,111 bags that fetched Sh168,658,501, New KPCU 2,765 bags for Sh113,943,171,
The newly licensed Coffee Estates Bourgeosie presented 111 bags which traded at Sh4,816,776, KCCE 491 bags for Sh19,933,498.
Rockbern Coffee Group bought seven bags of coffee for Sh219,336.
Others are Kiambu Coffee 219 bags Sh8,516,170,Kinya coffee 390 bags for Sh15,634,010, Kipkelion 619 bags for Sh25,360,647,Meru coffee 1,166 bags for Sh48,027,655.
