(NAIROBI, KENYA) – Six major coffee buyers bought 85% of the coffee traded at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange Sale 36, showing the continued control of a few players in Kenya’s coffee auction market. The auction at Wakulima House generated KES946.98 million ($7.3 million / £5.7 million / €6.6 million) from the sale of 1,067,915 kilogrammes of clean coffee in 17,315 bags.
The provisional market report showed coffee fetched an overall average price of KES44,410 ($342 / £267 / €310) per 50 kilogramme bag. This translates to about KES136 ($1.05 / £0.82 / €0.95) per kilogramme of cherry before deductions for processing, marketing and other factory costs.
The highest price was KES56,035 ($432 / £337 / €392) per 50 kilogramme bag for an AA grade consignment from Tegu Coffee Factory. The factory is linked to Tekangu Farmers Cooperative Society in Nyeri County. The coffee was marketed through Alliance Berries Limited.
| Grade | Bags Sold | Value (KES) | Value ($) | Value (£) | Value (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | 6,869 | KES 403.5 Million | $3.11 Million | £2.43 Million | €2.83 Million |
| C | 5,107 | KES 278.5 Million | $2.14 Million | £1.67 Million | €1.95 Million |
| AA | 1,497 | KES 94 Million | $724,000 | £565,000 | €658,000 |
| Other Grades | 3,842 | KES 170.98 Million | $1.32 Million | £1.03 Million | €1.2 Million |
| Total | 17,315 | KES 947 Million | $7.3 Million | £5.7 Million | €6.6 Million |
New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union handled the largest volume among marketing agents. It sold 4,949 bags weighing 305,083 kilogrammes at an average of KES44,258 ($341 / £266 / €310) per bag.
Alliance Berries Limited was the second largest marketer, handling 3,470 bags weighing 214,212 kilogrammes at an average price of KES46,328 ($357 / £279 / €324) per bag. Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company followed with 2,947 bags at an average of KES42,058 ($324 / £253 / €294) per bag.
Meru County Coffee Marketing Agency sold 1,194 bags at an average of KES46,587 ($359 / £280 / €326) per bag. KCCE Marketing Agency handled 1,096 bags at an average of KES46,846 ($361 / £282 / €328). Coffee Estates Bourgeoisie Brokers marketed 1,063 bags at an average of KES45,034 ($347 / £271 / €315) per bag.
United Eastern Kenya Coffee Marketing Company recorded the highest average among participating brokers. It sold 41,856 kilogrammes at an average of KES46,847 ($361 / £282 / €328) per 50 kilogramme bag.
Other marketing agents at the sale included Kinya Coffee Marketing Agency, Caffora Coffee Company, Ahadi Coffee, Minnesota Coffee Marketers, Nandi Coffee Cooperative Union Coffee Brokers and Murang’a County Coffee Dealers.
| Buyer | Bags Purchased | Share of Total Volume (%) | Value (KES) | Value ($) | Value (£) | Value (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ibero Kenya | 4,230 | 24.48 | KES 230 Million | $1.77 Million | £1.38 Million | €1.61 Million |
| Kenyacof Limited | 4,009 | 23.20 | – | – | – | – |
| C. Dormans SEZ | 3,451 | 19.97 | – | – | – | – |
| Taylor Winch | 1,195 | 6.92 | – | – | – | – |
| Global Mark Foods | 901 | 5.21 | – | – | – | – |
| Sondhi Trading | 841 | 4.87 | – | – | – | – |
| Other Buyers | 2,688 | 15.35 | – | – | – | – |
| Total | 17,315 | 100.00 | KES 947 Million | $7.3 Million | £5.7 Million | €6.6 Million |
On the buying side, Ibero Kenya was the leading buyer after purchasing 4,230 bags. This represented 24.48% of the total volume offered, at a value of about KES230 million ($1.77 million / £1.38 million / €1.61 million).
Kenyacof Limited followed with 4,009 bags. C. Dormans SEZ bought 3,451 bags. Taylor Winch purchased 1,195 bags, Global Mark Foods 901 bags and Sondhi Trading 841 bags.
The six leading buyers together purchased 903,073 kilogrammes, equal to about 85% of the coffee offered at the auction. The three largest buyers, Ibero Kenya, Kenyacof Limited and C. Dormans SEZ, controlled about 68% of the day’s traded volume. This shows the significant influence of large buyers on price discovery and market activity at the exchange.
Grade AB coffee recorded the largest volume, with 6,869 bags sold for KES403.5 million ($3.11 million / £2.43 million / €2.83 million). Grade C followed, with 5,107 bags generating KES278.5 million ($2.14 million / £1.67 million / €1.95 million).
| Marketing Agent | Bags Sold | Weight (kg) | Average Price per Bag (KES) | Average Price per Bag ($) | Average Price per Bag (£) | Average Price per Bag (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New KPCU | 4,949 | 305,083 | KES 44,258 | $341 | £266 | €310 |
| Alliance Berries Limited | 3,470 | 214,212 | KES 46,328 | $357 | £279 | €324 |
| Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage | 2,947 | – | KES 42,058 | $324 | £253 | €294 |
| Meru County Coffee Marketing Agency | 1,194 | – | KES 46,587 | $359 | £280 | €326 |
| KCCE Marketing Agency | 1,096 | – | KES 46,846 | $361 | £282 | €328 |
| Coffee Estates Bourgeoisie Brokers | 1,063 | – | KES 45,034 | $347 | £271 | €315 |
| United Eastern Kenya Coffee Marketing | – | 41,856 | KES 46,847 | $361 | £282 | €328 |
| Others | – | – | – | – |
A total of 1,497 bags of AA coffee were offered and fetched KES94 million ($724,000 / £565,000 / €658,000). This grade produced the highest price of the sale.
The results come as the coffee sector continues efforts to improve farmer returns through better quality, value addition, transparent marketing and stronger access to local and international markets. The performance of the premium AA coffee, particularly the Tegu consignment, shows the importance of quality improvement at farm and factory level as farmers seek better prices.
The weekly auctions at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange remain a key platform for price discovery in Kenya’s coffee industry. They bring together cooperative societies, estates, marketing agents and international and local buyers.
| Key Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Clean Coffee Sold (kg) | 1,067,915 |
| Total Bags Traded | 17,315 |
| Overall Average Price per Bag (KES) | KES 44,410 |
| Overall Average Price per Bag ($) | $342 |
| Overall Average Price per Bag (£) | £267 |
| Overall Average Price per Bag (€) | €310 |
| Average Price per kg Cherry (KES) | KES 136 |
| Average Price per kg Cherry ($) | $1.05 |
| Average Price per kg Cherry (£) | £0.82 |
| Average Price per kg Cherry (€) | €0.95 |
| Highest Price per Bag (KES) | KES 56,035 |
| Highest Price per Bag ($) | $432 |
| Highest Price per Bag (£) | £337 |
| Highest Price per Bag (€) | €392 |
| Top Three Buyers Share (%) | 68% |
| Top Six Buyers Share (%) | 85% |