The value of coffee Kenya exported between January and October rose 49%, boosted by increased shipments, data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics(KNBS) shows. According to KNBS, Kenya exported 43,308 metric tonnes (MT) of coffee at KES 33.8 billion up from 32,992 MT at KES 22.5billion in the same period in 2021. It said the prices during the 10 months averaged $5.27 a kilogram in the global market, lower than the $5.91 seen in the same period last year. This is an indication that Kenya earned more from coffee due to increased shipments, following declined production in main markets,…
Author: Eunniah Mbabazi
Kenya has partnered with an Australia-based company, Fortescue Future Industries, to build a fertilizer production facility in the next three years. The move, according to State House is aimed at accelerating the development of affordable green fertiliser by 2025. President Willian Ruto says the shift will help reduce our reliance on imports, check the high cost of fertiliser and boost food production. Under the agreement, Fortescue Future Industries will collaborate with the Kenyan government to build a 300MW capacity green ammonia and green fertiliser facility by 2025. The president on September 13, 2022 told the country that his government, through…
The Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) is in the process of starting to facilitate the trading of wheat on its floor. The crop will return to the Exchange’s trading floor after 15 years of break, if the decision is approved by the regulators at the Ministry of Trade & Regional Integration. It is a proposal that has come to the surface at a time when the country is gearing up to export wheat to neighbouring countries, including Kenya, which is a net importer of the commodity. Officials expect a surplus of wheat this year, as the grand initiative to produce the…
Local agribusiness firm, Kakuzi Plc has secured pre-shipment approvals from the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) for its second fresh avocado shipment to China. Kakuzi PLC Managing Director Mr Christopher Flowers says they received the pre-shipment clearance by KEPHIS last week and proceeded to load and dispatch the container to Mombasa over the weekend. The container is expected to leave the port of Mombasa for a 30-day voyage to China. The export of fresh avocados to China follows the early January signing of two protocols to facilitate bilateral trade, mainly the export of avocados and aquatic products from Kenya…
National Treasury has availed KES 3.55 billion to start implementation of the fertilizer subsidy programme that will start with counties undertaking planting during the short rains season of 2022. The amount will subsidize 71,000 MT (1.42 million, 50Kg bags) of fertilizer for growing food crops. This quantity will support cultivation of approximately 1.4 million acres. To ensure efficient delivery and effective control mechanisms are in place, the fertilizer will be availed through the National Crereals and Produce Board (NCPB) depots and sub-depots countrywide, with effect from 19th September 2022. Individual farmers will be entitled to a maximum of 100, 50Kg…
Kenya’s coffee exports earnings in the 11 months to August 2022 increased by KES 9.8 billion ($81 million), attributed to higher volumes and better prices in the international market on the back of a shortfall in supply from leading producer Brazil. Data from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) shows coffee exports earnings in the period hit KES 25.2 billion ($210 million) compared to KES 15.5 billion ($129 million) in the 11 months to August 2021. The number of bags sold through the auction grew by 52.58% from 377,204 in the previous season to 575,543 as at the end of the…
The price of Kenya’s coffee at the Nairobi coffee auction dropped to a three-month low in this week’s sale, reflecting lower demand due to rising inflation in key markets. Data from the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) indicates that the price of the beverage dropped to $257 this week, from $265 in the previous sale. This is the lowest price seen since May. NCE chief executive officer Daniel Mbithi said the price of coffee in New York, where Kenya sells most of its coffee, has declined to 230 cents per pound from 240 pounds previously. Kenya benchmarks its coffee prices on…
The weekly Mombasa Tea Auction held on 22nd, 23rd and 24th August 2022 had 12.3 million kilograms of tea offered for sale. The amount on offer was similar as during the previous sale, but increased from 8.4 million kilograms offered during a similar period last year. Of all the tea offered for sale, 8.7 million kilograms were sold, compared to 9.6 million kilograms during the previous sale, and 6.5 million kilograms during the same period last year. The tea auction recorded a stagnation in prices, with a kilogram selling at an average price of $2.21, similar as during the previous sale held…
Tea exports reduced 28% in the month of May as compared to the same period last year despite increased production due to good weather. Data from the Tea Board of Kenya indicate that the country shipped 37 million kilos worth KSh11.7 billion compared to 51 million kilos worth KSh 13 billion last year. The board says the decline in exports is due Russian-Ukraine crisis that has reduced the spending power of new Kenyan tea markets. The global recession occasioned by the Russia-Ukraine crisis saw Kenyan tea exports destinations shrinking to 40 markets compared to 51 during the same period last…
The Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) has imported 88,000 metric tons of NPK fertilizer from Russia for KSh9 billion. The ship docked in Mombasa with a consignment of 41,000 metric tons of fertilizer, which is equivalent to 820,000 bags. The second batch of 47,000 metric tons is expected in the country in the first week of September. The consignment is set to benefit over 600,000 tea farmers who own 54 factories across the country. KTDA board chairman David Ichoho says that bulk importation of the NPK fertilizer leverages economies of scale and this enables farmers to secure the fertilizer at…
The coffee auction at the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) recorded a 5% increase in prices, the second time in a row since the auction reopened last week after a one-month break. Latest data indicate that a 50kg bag is now selling at an average of KSh33,000 from KSh32,000 last week, attributed to high demand for the beans by processors. AA grade fetched the highest prices with 1,163 bags of the grade offered at KSh \57.4 million. The average price for the AA coffee was quoted at KSh39,000 representing a 5.4% increase from last week’s auction. SB coffee fetched the lowest…