Nairobi: Earnings from the coffee exported to international markets in the 2023/2024 coffee year rose to Sh39.9 billion, up from Sh34.1 billion realised in the previous year.
According to Kenya News Agency, during the period, 49.5 million kilograms of coffee were exported to 60 countries as compared to 47,957 metric tonnes that were sold in the 2022/2023 coffee year.
In the coffee year that ended September 30, 2024, Belgium bought the largest consignment of coffee, weighing 8,275.79 metric tonnes and valued at Sh7.42 billion, followed by the USA with 7,917.13 metric tonnes valued at Sh6.68 billion. Other top buyers included Germany, Korea, Sweden, Canada, the United Kingdom, Finland, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The report released last week by AFA Director Dr. Bruno Linyiru was the first since the inception of coffee reforms at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) that commenced on August 15, 2023. The report further indicated that 1,961 metric tonnes of locally processed coffee were exported to various destinations.
The report adds that between October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, 58 coffee buyers bought 49,199.09 metric tonnes, led by C Dorman, which purchased 9,048.38 metric tonnes followed by Ibero Kenya, which purchased 7,769.51 metric tonnes. Other key buyers were Kenyacof, Taylor Winch, Louis Dreyfus, and Sasini, among others.
In the coffee brokers' category, 14 agents led by Alliance Berries, New KPCU, and Kirinyaga Slopes traded a total of 676,903 bags weighing 41,616,589 kgs. Alliance Berries sold 198,084 bags, New KPCU 150,266 bags, Kirinyaga Slopes 122,031 bags, and 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, and Kirinyaga 5,339.09 metric tonnes, respectively, among others.
According to reports on production, Kiambu farmers sold 9 million kilograms, Kirinyaga 8.9 million kilograms, Nyeri 6.5 million kilograms, and Murang'a 5.01 million kilograms of coffee, among others. Speaking to KNA via phone, a coffee expert, Henry Kinyua, said in Kenya 113,501 acres of land are under coffee farming, with 71 percent occupied by the cooperative societies.
'Area under coffee estates is 28,552 acres, while that under cooperative societies is at 84,950 acres,' he added. Production of new coffee-growing areas included Kajiado, Laikipia, and Taita Taveta, with significant contributions to the overall coffee production.