By Sean Ngirici
editor@themountainjournal.co.ke
Kenya coffee was exported to 60 countries, fetching Sh 39.9 billion after the sale of 49,501,222.18kgs, in the year 2022/2024, compared to Sh34.1 billion, of the previous year.
In the export market 6,583 metric tonnes of coffee were sold through the direct market.
In production, Kiambu farmers sold 8,957,435.80kgs, Kirinyaga 8,931,496.34kgs, Nyeri 6,520,124.13kgs, Murang’a 5,073,815.37kgs among others.
In the year 2023/2024 that ended on September 30, Belgium bought the largest consignment of coffee weighing 8,275.79 metric tonnes, valued at Sh7.42 billion, followed by USA 7,917.13 metric tonnes valued at Sh6.68 billion.
The report is the first since the inception of coffee reforms implemented on August 15,2023, at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE), and in the year 1,961 metric tonnes exported after processing in Kenya.
Other leading buyers were from Germany ,Korea, Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom, Finland ,Australia and the Netherlands.
A report by the Agriculture Food Authority (AFA) Director General Dr. Bruno Linyiru and Felix Mutwiri, the Acting Director, Coffee Directorate released last week indicates that in the years Kenya sold more coffee compared to the 2022/2023 of 47,957 metric tonnes.
“Area under estates is 28,552 acres, while that under cooperative societies is at 84,950 acres,” read a section of the report.
Coffee growing in new areas production was Kajiado 7,739.80 kgs, Laikipia 9,872.42kgs, Taita Taveta 9.70kgs
A coffee expert Henry Kinyua said in Kenya 113,501acres of land are under coffee, with 71 percent occupied by the cooperative societies.
“This is a slight increase from 111,902 hectares in the previous season (2022/2023),” said Kinyua.
The report adds that, “In the duration between October 1, 2023, to September 30 2024, 58 coffee buyers bought 49,199.09 metric tonnes led by C Dorman 9,048.38, metric tonnes, Ibero Kenya 7,769.51 metric tonnes,”.
Kenyacof 5,663.50 metric tonnes, Taylor Winch 4,172.88 metric tonnes, Louis Dreyfus 4,144.27 metric tonnes, Sasini 3,066.60 metric tonnes among others.
In the coffee brokers category , 14 brokers led by Alliance Berries, New KPCU, and Kirinyaga Slopes in the duration 676,903 bags weighing 41,616,589kgs
The report further explains Alliance Berries sold 198,084 bags, New KPCU 150,266 bags, Kirinyaga Slopes 122,031bags, KCCE 51,021 bags.
In the millers category, three New KPCU depots milled 17,847.84 metric tonnes ,Thika Coffee Mills 1,931.90 metric tonnes, Murang’a Mills 152.07 metric tonnes, Kirinyaga 5,339.09 metric tonnes among others.
