By Henry Kinyua
Sale 22 at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange recorded 32,303 bags (1,977,568 kg) traded at a total value of USD 11.10 million (KSh 1.44 billion), with an average price of USD 280.70 per 50-kg bag.
This is a decline from Sale 21, where 29,098 bags traded at USD 308 per bag. The current provisional average, about USD 281 per bag (KSh 111 per kg of cherry at a 6.5:1 conversion), is the lowest this season. It remains below global benchmarks, with ICE Arabica futures at about 294 cents/lb ( USD 324 per 50-kg bag). The key question is whether the negotiations today will lift prices.
In broker performance, Alliance Berries led with 13,106 bags at USD 276.36, followed by Kirinyaga Slopes (5,070 bags, USD 286.02) and New KPCU (3,701 bags, USD 292.63). KCCE Marketing achieved one of the highest prices at USD 311.24 for 3,148 bags, while Kipkelion traded 2,151 bags at USD 265.02. Others included Minnesota (1,332 bags, USD 280.11), CEBBA (1,005 bags, USD 261.90), Kinya (958 bags, USD 253.91), Murang’a County (834 bags, USD 267.10), Mt. Elgon (821 bags, USD 251.82), and Baringo Kawa (177 bags, USD 304.35).
On the demand side, Ibero Kenya led with 9,964 bags (30.8%), followed by Kenyacof (4,518 bags, 14.0%), Sasini (3,575 bags, 11.1%), Louis Dreyfus (3,542 bags, 11.0%), Taylor Winch (3,152 bags, 9.8%), and C. Dormans SEZ (2,829 bags, 8.8%). Together, the top six buyers controlled about 85.5% of purchases.
With prices at a seasonal low despite higher volumes, attention now turns to negotiations. Will they close the gap between Nairobi prices and global markets, or will it lead to higher withdrawals?
