Nairobi: A total of 8,674 bags of coffee, amounting to 541,341 kilograms, were put up for auction at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE), resulting in a transaction worth Sh592 million.
According to Kenya News Agency, the NCE report on the Sale 3 of the current coffee season highlighted a decrease in the volume of coffee traded this week, which was 18 percent lower compared to the 10,650 bags traded last week. The auction, held at the Wakulima House in Nairobi, saw an average price of Sh52,196 for a 50-kilogram bag, equating to Sh160 per kilogram of cherry.
The auction's highest price was Sh66,021 for each of 18 bags of AA grade coffee from the Murarandia Farmers' Cooperative Society of Murang'a County. Premium grades AA and AB dominated the auction, representing over 55 percent of the total volume traded. The average price for AA grade coffee was Sh59,867 per bag, while AB grade fetched Sh55,700 on average. Other notable grades included C at an average of Sh51,537 and grade PB at Sh55,118, indicating a consistent demand for high-quality washed Arabica beans.
Among the brokers, New KPCU PLC handled the highest volume, trading 2,200 bags, equivalent to 137,428 kg, valued at Sh140.8 million, at an average price of Sh51,422 per bag. Alliance Berries Limited followed with 1,928 bags worth Sh125.5 million, averaging Sh52,067 per bag. KCCE Marketing Agency traded 913 bags at Sh52,843 per bag on average, while Kipkelion Broker Company managed 847 bags, realizing Sh57.6 million at Sh55,039 per bag.
Murang'a County Coffee Dealers Co. Ltd achieved an average price of Sh52,972 for 302 bags, and Coffee Estates Bourgeoisie Brokers Ltd maintained an average of Sh48,579. In the buyers' category, Ibero Kenya Ltd led with 3,138 bags, equivalent to 196,004 kilograms, worth Sh205.6 million. Louis Dreyfus Company purchased 1,827 bags for USD 122 million; Taylor Winch acquired 1,288 bags for Sh88 million; C. Dormans SEZ Ltd bought 981 bags worth Sh72 million; and Global Mark Foods Ltd secured 349 bags for Sh12 million. These purchases by the five companies collectively accounted for nearly 90 percent of the total volume offered.