The HK Coffee Market Summary: Sale 21

By Henry Kinyua

This week, Sale 21 happened in two days, setting a new precedent. On the first day, Tuesday, March 4^th, 26,522 bags were traded, leaving a balance of 7,486 bags that were traded the following day, Wednesday, March 5^th.

Overview

• Total Volumes: 2,092,764 kilograms (34,008 bags)

• Total Value: $14,372,607 or 1.9Billion

• Average Price: $343 per 50kg, equivalent to 136 per Kg of cherry (Gross)

Top Buyers

1. Ibero Kenya Ltd: Major purchaser across all grades, particularly active in grade AB and C

2. Louis Dreyfus Company: Significant buyer across all categories

3. C.Dorman Ltd: Prominent buyer focusing on premium grades

4. Kenyacof Limited: Strong presence in AA and AB grades

5. Sasini (K) Limited: Notable buyer with diverse grade portfolio

Grade Analysis

• Premium Grades (AA, AB): Commanded highest prices, averaging $380-410 per 50kg

• Grade C: Traded at an average of $360 per 50kg

• Grade T/TT: Lower tier pricing at $240-350 per 50kg

• PB (Peaberry): Traded at premium rates of $350-390 per 50kg

• UG1/UG2: Varied pricing, UG1 averaging $360, UG2 averaging $230

Certification Premium

Coffee with certifications like FLO (Fairtrade), RA (Rainforest Alliance), and CAFÉ commanded price premiums of approximately 5-15% over non-certified coffees of similar grades.

Broker Performance

• Alliance Berries Limited: 12,899 bags (787,808 kg), highest volume traded

• Minnesota Coffee Marketers Limited: 4,016 bags (253,751 kg)

• Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage Company Ltd: 5,624 bags (343,843 kg)

• New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union PLC: 3,667 bags (227,109 kg)

• KCCE Marketing Agency Limited: 2,559 bags (158,582 kg)

Premium Lots (>$400 per 50kg)

• Lot 6088 (16SM0070/NDIMAINI/XAC07F01) Nyeri county: AB grade, 126 bags, $420 per 50kg, Kenyacof Limited

• Lot 6023 (16SM0060/KIANGOMBE/XAD02F04) Kirinyaga Countyy: AB grade, 62 bags, $414 per 50kg, C.Dorman Ltd

• Lot 6063 (17SM0012/MUSHAGARA/XAD03F01 Kirinyaga County): AB grade, 124 bags, $414 per 50kg, Ibero Kenya Ltd

• Lot 6067 (17SM0084/ICHAMARA/XAC40F01) Nyeri County: AB grade, 108 bags, $411 per 50kg, C.Dorman Ltd

• Lot 6115 (20KF0029/NDUNDU/XAA25F03) Kiambu County: PB grade, 12 bags, $410 per 50kg, C.Dorman Ltd

• Lot 6087 (16SM0067/KIUNGU/XBD05F02) Meru County: AB grade, 59 bags, $409 per 50kg, C.Dorman Ltd

• Lot 6092 (17SM0013/GUAMA/XAD03F07) KIRINYAGA County: AB grade, 94 bags, $409 per 50kg, C.Dorman Ltd

• Lot 6215 (19KF0014/CHANIA/AB.0021): AA grade, 50 bags, $411 per 50kg, Kenyacof Limited.

The Nairobi Coffee Exchange will issue the Final Transaction Listing with detailed information on trading factories by week’s end, and for comprehensive data on previous sales, please download the Kilimo News App from the Google Play Store or use the web version at https://app.kilimonews.co.ke/index.php/site/index