Sale 14 of the current coffee season at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) on Tuesday witnessed higher traded volumes during the weekly auction that netted Ksh2.45 billion ($18.977 million).

Coffee agents presented a total of 40,918 bags equivalent to 2,500,105 kilogrammes of coffee in the auction. The volume of coffee traded during sale 14 jumped by 47 per cent compared to 27,788 bags traded last week in sale 13.

According to the NCE report on the auction conducted at Wakulima House in Nairobi, premium coffee grades dominated the market with 13,035 bags of grade AA fetching Ksh844.9 million and coffee grade AB earning Ksh1.1 billion.

Maximum price attained in the auction was Ksh63,210 per bag of 29 bags of grade AA coffee belonging to Kiairia factory which is part of Gititu Farmers’ Cooperative Society of Kiambu County.

Nine coffee brokers participated in the auction with Alliance Berries Ltd trading the highest volume of 14,651 bags at Ksh917 million.

New KPCU PLC traded 6,107 bags at Ksh359 million, Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage sold 5,461 bags at Ksh356 million, Kipkelion Broker Company Ltd traded 4,454 bags fetching Ksh254 million and Minnesota Coffee Marketers Ltd closed five top brokers with 2,392 bags that earned Ksh85.7 million.

Other brokers that participated in the market include Coffee Estates Bourgeoisie Brokers Ltd – 2,282 bags; Kinya Coffee Marketing Agency Ltd – 2,038 bags; Mt Elgon Coffee Marketing Agency – 915 bags and Bungoma Union Marketing Agency – 124 bags.

In the category of dealers, five top buyers purchased 34,021 bags, equivalent to 83.14 per cent of the total volume traded in the auction.

Kenyacof Limited bought 10,510 bags equivalent to 25.68 per cent at Ksh680 million, Taylor Winch (Coffee) Limited purchased 6,984 bags at Ksh400 million, Ibero Kenya Ltd got 6,810 bags at Ksh391 million, C. Dormans SEZ Ltd bought 6,099 bags at Ksh407 million and Sasini (K) Limited got 3,618 bags at Ksh214 million.

NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndungu said many cooperative societies have embraced production of high quality coffee which attracts international buyers.

She also appreciated the increase of coffee production commending the efforts made by the brokers in mobilizing coffee into the auction, a move that has enabled farmers to earn impressive prices.

(Exchange rate 1$ = Ksh129)

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Bernard Munyao