The 2024/2025 coffee season’s Sale 17 took place on February 4th, 2025, at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange on the 2nd floor of Wakulima House along Haile Selassie Avenue and through online platforms.
A total of 32,801 bags (50 kg each) of coffee were traded, marking a 13% increase from the 28,971 bags traded in Sale 16 the previous week. This increase in trading volume reflects growing demand within the market.
The average price per 50 kg bag rose by 8% to 368 USD, up from 340 USD in Sale 16. This average price translates to $7.4 per kilogram of clean coffee, Kshs 146 per kilogram of cherry gross, and Kshs 117 per kilogram for farmers. This increase in price demonstrates a positive trend for coffee prices in the ongoing season.
The highest price achieved was 446 USD per 50 kg bag, a slight increase from the previous Sale 16, where the highest price was 444 USD. The coffee that fetched this top price came from the KIAWAMURURU Wet Mill (Factory Code: XAC50F01) in Nyeri County. Additionally, KIAWAMURURU secured another lot of 88 bags (4,816 kg) of Grade AA coffee, which sold for 412 USD per 50 kg bag. This was a strong performance for the cooperative, highlighting the increasing premium associated with coffee from Nyeri County. Over the past three weeks, cooperatives in Nyeri County have consistently achieved the highest prices in the market, a trend that continues to strengthen their position in the coffee sector.
Natural coffee from Ruui Ruiru Coffee Factory also featured in the sale, adding to the variety of coffee types offered.
Key Highlights
- Trading Volume: A total of 32,801 bags (2,005,090 kgs) were sold, with an average price of $368 per 50 kg bag.
- Price Analysis: The average price per 50 kg bag translates to Kshs 146 per kilogram of cherry, and farmers received approximately Kshs 117 per kilogram, which is 80% of the trading floor price.
- Market Value: The total value of coffee traded was $14,767,273 (Kshs 1.7 billion), reflecting a strong performance in the market.
- Premium Achievement: KIAWAMURURU Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Nyeri County secured the highest price of 446 USD per 50 kg bag for a lot of 53 bags (3,232 kgs) of Grade AB coffee. This represents a significant improvement from last season’s peak of 366 USD per bag from the same factory, which suggests that the market conditions for Nyeri County coffee are improving and favorable.
Highest Sale Details
By the end of the sale, 9,984 bags (30% of the total volume traded) had been confirmed. This confirmed transaction volume demonstrates a strong level of buyer interest and confidence in the coffee being offered.
A total of 1,376 bags achieved prices of 400 USD or higher per 50 kg bag, indicating that premium coffees, particularly from Nyeri County, continue to dominate the high-end segment of the market. These bags were highly sought after by buyers looking for top-quality coffee.
The majority of the trading volume comprised of Grade AA and AB coffees, with 25,682 bags, or 78% of the total traded volumes, falling into these higher-quality categories.
Broker Participation
Ten brokers participated in Sale 17, with several prominent firms leading the market. Among these were Alliance Berries, Kirinyaga Slopes, KCCE-MA, New KPCU, and Minnesota Marketers. Other notable brokers included CEBBA, Kipkelion, Baringo Kawa, Mt. Elgon, and United Eastern Coffee Marketing Company, which helped facilitate transactions during the sale.
Buyer Activity
C. Dormans led a group of 17 buyers who collectively purchased all available coffee during this sale. This shows that the coffee offered at Sale 17 was in high demand, with buyers keen to secure quality coffee from various regions.
Conclusion
Sale 17 reflects a positive shift in the market, with significant increases in both trading volume and prices compared to previous weeks. The continued premium performance of Nyeri County coffees, especially from cooperatives like KIAWAMURURU, points to a growing preference for top-quality coffee in the global market. The coffee industry in Kenya continues to demonstrate its resilience and potential for growth, supported by the strong participation of brokers and buyers. For further details, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange will issue the Final Transaction Listing by the week’s end.
