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The weekly coffee auction at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) earned KSh1.01 billion from 21,636 bags (1,333,429kg) in Sale 4, up from KSh879 million for 17,442 bags in Sale 3, The Standard reported on October 29, 2026. The average price was US$294.26 (KSh38,236) per 50kg bag.
Nairobi Coffee Exchange auction: prices by grade
| Grade | Bags | Average price per 50kg bag (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| AB | 9,300 | 323.36 |
| AA | 4,360 | 339.90 |
| PB | 871 | 351.09 |
| C | 2,747 | 293.96 |
| TT | 262 | 271.17 |
| UG1 | 577 | 232.15 |
| T | 564 | 178.77 |
| UG2 | 337 | 97.06 |
Prices ranged from US$40 (KSh5,197) to US$398 (about KSh51,700) per bag. AA and AB together made up more than 55% of volume.
Top buyers and marketing agents
- Ibero Kenya Ltd: 4,817 bags
- Kenyacof Ltd: 3,340 bags
- C. Dorman’s SEZ Ltd: 2,748 bags
- Louis Dreyfus Company: 2,575 bags
- Sasini (K) Ltd: 2,120 bags
New Kenya Planters Co-operative Union (New KPCU) handled 4,962 bags at an average of US$291.52 per bag, worth about US$1.7 million.
How this season compares
The 2026/27 season opened with a KSh801 million sale; see our report on the season-opening auction. Weekly earnings have since passed KSh1 billion as more coffee reaches the market from the main harvest.
What it means for farmers
Auction prices are paid in dollars, so farmers’ earnings in shillings depend on both world prices and the exchange rate, which has been stable at about KSh130 to the dollar. What a farmer finally receives is lower than the auction price after milling, marketing and cooperative deductions. Farmers should ask their society for a breakdown of charges and payment timelines, and check that their coffee is graded properly, since the gap between top grades (AA, AB, PB) and lower grades is wide.
How the Nairobi Coffee Exchange auction works
Coffee from cooperatives and estates is milled, graded and then offered through licensed marketing agents at the weekly auction, where licensed dealers bid in US dollars per 50kg bag. Grades are based on bean size and quality: AA and AB are the larger, premium beans, PB is peaberry, while C, T, TT and UG grades are smaller, lighter or ungraded beans that fetch lower prices. Buyers then export most of the coffee, mainly to Europe, the US and Asia.
Farmers can also sell through direct settlement, where the buyer pays into the Direct Settlement System and money flows to the farmer’s cooperative faster. Payment times and deductions still vary by society.
What to watch in coming sales
- Volumes as the main crop harvest peaks.
- Whether AA and AB prices hold above US$320 a bag.
- Shilling movements, which change what farmers earn in local currency.
FAQ
How much did the latest coffee auction earn?
KSh1.01 billion from 21,636 bags in Sale 4 of the 2026/27 season.
Which coffee grade fetched the most?
PB averaged US$351.09 and AA US$339.90 per 50kg bag; the single highest price was US$398.
Updated October 31, 2026.
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