Kenya’s Coffee Sheds 30pc of its Value at the Auction

In the face of diminishing bean quality as the current crop cycle reaches its conclusion, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) has reported a substantial 30 percent decline in the value of coffee sales.

The aggregate worth of all coffee grades during the recent auction session has dwindled to $691,391, marking a notable reduction from the $998,115 achieved in the preceding sale.

According to data sourced from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange, the most recent market report reveals that a bag of coffee, auctioned at the exchange, commanded a price of $194, down from the $197 it garnered in the previous sale.

The previous sale had seen a surge in prices, driven by heightened buyer demand, fueled by a supply shortage that compelled the NCE to postpone some of its weekly sales in an effort to accumulate a more substantial inventory for trading purposes.

Following the acquisition of sufficient coffee volumes, the auction successfully resumed trading last Tuesday.

In a noteworthy development, Kenya’s premium coffee-grade AA experienced a slight uptick in the latest sale, with a 50-kilogram bag fetching $235, compared to $232 in the earlier sale.

Concurrently, Grade AB, recognised for its high quality, recorded an increase in value, as a bag now commands $217, a significant rise from the previous price of $202.

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