Nairobi: Coffee drawn from cooperative societies and estates that was traded at Nairobi Coffee Exchange, Tuesday netted Sh1.6 billion. A total of 28,971 bags of 50 kilos of coffee were sold representing a 4 percent increase from the 27,864 bags traded during last week's sale. The average price per bag saw a slight drop to Sh43,911 from Sh44,944 attained in the previous sale.

According to Kenya News Agency, this average price translates to Sh134 per kilo of cherry gross (clean coffee), where farmers will receive an estimated Sh107 per kilo of delivered coffee. Notably, Gachatha Factory in Nyeri County achieved the highest price of Sh57,364 for each of its 33 bags of grade AA, followed by Gathiga Factory which secured Sh55,426 for each of the 32 bags of grade AA traded in the auction.

Kahunyo Factory fetched Sh54,522 for the 25 bags of grade AA, while Marumi Factory, based in Murang'a, received Sh52,196 for each of the 3 bags, all brokered by Alliance Berries Limited. Kaguyu Factory, brokered by Kirinyaga Slopes Company, achieved Sh50,646 for each of the 39 bags of grade AA coffee.

In the auction, premium grades AA and AM accounted for 22,608 bags, translating to 78 percent of the total volume traded, which earned Sh471.7 million. Among brokers, Alliance Berries Ltd led 11 other agents by selling 14,805 bags at Sh788 million, followed by Kirinyaga Slopes Company, which traded 3,474 bags at Sh193.1 million.

New KPCU sold 3,128 bags earning Sh165.5 million, KCCE Marketing Agents traded 2,837 bags at Sh156.7 million, and Kipkelion Ltd traded 1,759 bags fetching Sh0.96 million. In the dealers' category, C-Dorman Ltd led 15 local and international buyers after purchasing 10,614 bags, followed by Ibero Kenya Ltd with 6,657 bags; Taylor Winch with 5,448 bags; Louis Dreyfus with 2,252 bags; and Sondhi Trading Ltd with 1,491 bags, among others.

Stakeholders in the coffee value chain have been appealing to farmers to produce high-quality coffee, which fetches high prices at auction. NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndungu noted that coffee at the auction continues to earn increased prices as cooperative societies strive to market premium qualities of cherry. She emphasized the importance of training and assisting farmers in increasing production and improving the quality of their coffee, which consequently attracts international buyers.