Kenya coffee farmers earn US$320.3M in 2025/2026
Alliance Berries and New KPCU dominated auction marketing, handling about 61% of traded coffee as the industry looks ahead to the 2026/2027 season.
KENYA – Kenyan coffee farmers earned Kes 41.63 billion (US$320.33M) from sales at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) during the 2025/2026 coffee year, an increase of approximately Kes 6 billion (US$46.16M) from the previous season, supported by relatively firm prices and market demand.
The earnings came from the sale of about 47 million kilogrammes of coffee between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026, with 770,034 bags traded through the auction. In the 2024/2025 coffee year, farmers earned Kes 35.6 billion (US$273.99M) from 673,844 bags.
According to the NCE report, improved prices contributed to the stronger financial performance during much of the season. By May 2026, the exchange had recorded Kes 32.25 billion (US$248.2M) from 36.93 million kilogrammes, at an average price of Kes 43,780 per 50-kilogramme bag.
However, prices softened towards the end of the season. At Sale 42, held on 29 September, 17,765 bags generated Kes 841.3 million (US$6.48M), with the average price falling to Kes 38,140 per 50-kilogramme bag, equivalent to approximately Kes 762 per kilogramme (US$ of clean coffee.
NCE chief executive officer Lisper Ndung’u reported that 18 brokers participated in marketing coffee during the year. Alliance Berries Limited led the market, handling 222,329 bags, representing approximately 29% of total traded volumes.
New Kenya Planters’ Cooperative Union (New KPCU) followed with 137,284 bags, accounting for about 18% of the market. Ndung’u noted that the two firms jointly handled approximately 61% of the coffee traded at the exchange.
Other brokers recording notable volumes included Kipkelion, with 58,356 bags, CEBBA with 40,789 bags and Minnesota with 30,405 bags.
Among county growers’ cooperative unions, Meru marketed 21,786 bags valued at Kes 23.8 million (US$183.18K), while Mt Elgon sold 15,334 bags worth Kes 17.9 million (US$137.77K). Murang’a growers marketed 12,476 bags valued at Kes 13.3 million (US$102.36K).
The improved earnings come amid efforts to strengthen production, coffee quality and access to premium international markets. Kenya primarily produces Arabica coffee, with auction prices influenced by quality, origin and grading.
Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics showed that the average coffee auction price increased to US$7.21 per kilogramme in 2025, from US$4.90 in 2024, although total volumes sold during the calendar year declined.
Coffee Board of Kenya chairman Henry Kinyua expressed optimism about prices in the 2026/2027 coffee year, while urging farmers to maintain recommended agricultural practices.
Kinyua said adherence to good farming practices would be critical to sustaining high-quality production and attracting premium prices in international markets.
The latest auction results provide an indication of improved earnings for growers as Kenya’s coffee industry continues to focus on quality and market access.
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