The Nairobi Coffee Exchange’s Sale 31, held on July 15, 2025, demonstrated strong market performance and vibrant trading activity. A total of 5,818 lots, amounting to 359,444 kilograms of coffee, were sold for a gross value of USD 2,445,479.18, equivalent to about Ksh 315 million. The average price across all transactions stood at USD 340 per 50kg bag, which translates to approximately Ksh 134 per kilogram of cherry on a gross basis. These figures reflect the sustained demand for high-quality Kenyan coffee in the global market.
Leading the buyers’ list were major industry players, with C. Dormans SEZ Ltd securing the top spot, followed closely by Louis Dreyfus Company, Ibero Kenya Ltd, Diamond Coffee Company, and Sasini (K) Limited. Other notable buyers included Kenyacof Limited, Sondhi Trading Co. Ltd, and Taylor Winch (Coffee) Limited. Smaller buyers collectively accounted for about 9.8% of the total market share, underscoring the dominance of established trading firms in the coffee sector.
Price performance was particularly notable during this sale. The highest price achieved was USD 401 per 50kg bag for a lot of 10 bags of AA-grade coffee sourced from Kiamariga Factory in Mathira North FCS, Nyeri County. This highlights the premium attached to top-grade Kenyan coffee in the international marketplace. Additionally, premium pricing was observed across several lots, with 36% of them fetching prices above USD 350 per 50kg bag. This reflects the market’s continued willingness to pay more for exceptional quality.
Regarding confirmations, about 28% of the lots were confirmed by the close of trading, indicating a healthy level of buyer commitment and confidence in the offerings. The diversity of grades sold further underscores Kenya’s varied coffee quality spectrum. The AB grade dominated sales at 46%, followed by C grade at 19% and AA grade at 17%. Commercial grades such as T (5.2%), TT (4.8%), MH (6.9%), and UG1/UG2 (6.0%) were also represented, while Peaberry (PB) made up 3.4% of the total volume.
Overall, the sale reaffirmed Kenya’s position as a leading supplier of premium coffee, driven by robust demand, competitive pricing, and consistent quality. With a significant proportion of lots securing premium prices, the outlook for the Kenyan coffee sector remains optimistic as buyers continue to value its superior quality and distinct flavor profile.
