By Henry Kinyua
In news that proves Kenyan coffee beans are now worth more per kilo than your average Nairobi landlord’s security deposit demands, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange just moved Ksh 2.4Billion( $18.5 million) worth of liquid gold—with one hot lot hitting $500 per bag or $10 per Kilo.
The Nairobi Coffee Exchange concluded Sale 15 on Tuesday with robust trading activity, moving 39,408 bags weighing 2,411,979 kilograms for a total value of USD 18,551,866. The auction achieved an average price of USD 385 per 50kg bag ($7.7 per Kg), reflecting strong demand across multiple coffee grades. This was slightly lower than the USD 386 achieved last week. USD 385 per 50 kgs bag is equivalent to Ksh 153 per Kg of cherry.
The day’s highest price of USD 500 per 50kg ($10 per Kg) was achieved by Lot 6188, a premium AA grade coffee from Ichuga Factory, part of Kiama FCS in Nyeri County. It was Rainforest Alliance certified and marketed by Alliance Berries Limited. The lot, consisting of 51 bags weighing 6,142 kilograms, was purchased by Kenyacof Limited for a total value of USD 61,420, confirmed at the fall of the hammer.
A notable 25 lots achieved exceptional prices of USD 450 or above per 50kg bag ($9 perKg), representing 2,053 bags or 5.21% of the total volume traded. The premium-priced lots ranged from USD 451 to the day’s high of USD 500, with significant volumes including Lot 6185 (160 bags at USD 468), Lot 6154 (137 bags at USD 481), and Lot 6730 (125 bags at USD 456). Most of these premium lots were AA-grade coffees from the Kirinyaga and Nyeri Counties, marketed primarily by Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Ltd and Alliance Berries Limited.
Market Performance by Grade
Premium AB-grade coffee dominated the auction, accounting for 47% of total sales volume with 18,596 bags fetching an average price of USD 384.25 per 50kg. AA grade followed closely with 12,566 bags (35% of market share), averaging USD 422 per 50kg. Together, these two top grades represented over 81% of the day’s total trading volume and value.
Broker Performance:
All thirteen marketing agents participated actively in Sale 15, with varying volumes and price achievements:
By Volume:
• Alliance Berries Limited: 14,426 bags (880,275 kg) – USD 6,889,791 at USD 391/50kg average
• Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Ltd: 7,068 bags (428,385 kg) – USD 3,641,974 at USD 425/50kg average
• New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union PLC: 3,976 bags (242,764 kg) – USD 1,872,370 at USD 386/50kg average
• Kipkelion Broker Company Ltd: 3,114 bags (190,420 kg) – USD 1,355,739 at USD 356/50kg average
• KCCE Marketing Agency Limited: 2,797 bags (170,936 kg) – USD 1,281,243 at USD 375/50kg average
• Kinya Coffee Marketing Agency Ltd: 1,691 bags (103,522 kg) – USD 652,298 at USD 315/50kg average
• Coffee Estates Bourgeoisie Brokers Limited: 1,595 bags (98,329 kg) – USD 687,051 at USD 349/50kg average
• Minnesota Coffee Marketers Limited: 1,585 bags (103,961 kg) – USD 751,877 at USD 362/50kg average
• Murang’a County Coffee Dealers Co. Ltd: 1,573 bags (95,550 kg) – USD 717,230 at USD 375/50kg average
• Mt. Elgon Coffee Marketing Agency: 627 bags (38,634 kg) – USD 286,841 at USD 371/50kg average
• Kiambu Coffee Marketing Limited: 446 bags (27,676 kg) – USD 206,212 at USD 373/50kg average
• United Eastern Kenya Coffee Marketing Co. Ltd: 359 bags (22,233 kg) – USD 145,820 at USD 328/50kg average
• Bungoma Union Marketing Agency: 151 bags (9,294 kg) – USD 63,419 at USD 341/50kg average
Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Ltd achieved the highest average price at USD 425.08 per 50kg, demonstrating exceptional quality from their catchment area, while Alliance Berries Limited dominated in sheer volume, accounting for 36.6% of all bags sold.
Top Buyers
Ibero Kenya Ltd dominated purchasing activity, acquiring 12,039 bags (735,648 kg) worth USD 5,309,613, representing 28.6% of the total market value. The company was active across all coffee grades and multiple brokers.
The top six buyers by value were:
1. Ibero Kenya Ltd: USD 5,309,613 (28.6%)
2. Kenyacof Limited: USD 3,553,158 (19.1%)
3. C.Dormans SEZ Ltd: USD 3,339,072 (18.0%)
4. Sasini (K) Limited: USD 2,396,807 (12.9%)
5. Taylor Winch (Coffee) Limited: USD 1,901,128 (10.2%)
6. Louis Dreyfus Company: USD 895,205 (4.8%)
These six buyers collectively accounted for 83.7% of the total market value, demonstrating highly concentrated purchasing power among major coffee dealers and exporters.
Market Outlook
With prices ranging from USD 150 to USD 500 per 50kg across all grades, the auction provided opportunities for buyers at various price points, while rewarding producers of premium-quality coffee with exceptional returns. So the next time you’re hesitating over that $5 cappuccino at your local café, just remember: that same cup probably started as a $500-per-bag Kenyan masterpiece that travelled halfway across the world to fuel your morning. You’re not just drinking coffee—you’re sipping on liquid gold. Kenya: where we turn dirt and sunshine into your Monday morning survival juice, one premium bean at a time.
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