Nairobi: Sale 14 of the current coffee season at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) yesterday witnessed a higher traded volume during the weekly auction netting at least Sh2.45 billion. Coffee agents presented a total of 40,918 bags equivalent to 2,500,105 kilos of coffee in the auction. The volume of coffee traded during Sale 14 jumped by about 47 per cent compared to 27,788 bags traded last week in Sale 13.

According to Kenya News Agency, the NCE report about the auction conducted at Wakulima House in Nairobi highlighted that premium coffee grades dominated the market. Specifically, 13,035 bags of grade AA fetched Sh844.9 million, while coffee grade AB earned Sh1.1 billion. The maximum price attained in the auction was Sh63,210 per bag for 29 bags of grade AA coffee belonging to Kiairia factory, which is part of the 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 Sh917 million. New KPCU PLC traded 6,107 bags at Sh359 million, Kirinyaga Slopes Coffee Brokerage sold 5,461 bags at Sh356 million, Kipkelion Broker Company Ltd traded 4,454 bags fetching Sh254 million, and Minnesota Coffee Marketers Ltd closed five top brokers with 2,392 bags which earned Sh85.7 million. Other brokers that participated in the market include Coffee Estates Bourgeoisie Brokers Ltd with 2,282 bags, Kinya Coffee Marketing Agency Ltd with 2,038 bags, Mt. Elgon Coffee Marketing Agency with 915 bags, and Bungoma Union Marketing Agency with 124 bags.

In the category of dealers, five top buyers purchased 34,021 bags, equivalent to 83.14 percent of the total volume traded in the auction. Kenyacof Limited bought 10,510 bags equivalent to 25.68 per cent at Sh680 million, Taylor Winch (Coffee) Limited purchased 6,984 bags at Sh400 million, Ibero Kenya Ltd obtained 6,810 bags at Sh391 million, C. Dormans SEZ Ltd bought 6,099 bags at Sh407 million, and Sasini (K) Limited acquired 3,618 bags at Sh214 million.

NCE Chief Executive Officer Lisper Ndungu noted that many cooperative societies have embraced the production of high-quality coffee, attracting international buyers. She also appreciated the increase in 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.