NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s coffee industry registered strong growth in the 2023/2024 coffee year, raking in $292.88 million (Sh37.7 billion) from exports, according to the latest Coffee Yearbook by the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA).
Export volumes rose to 819,985 bags, up from 799,275 the previous year, while global demand pushed the average price per 60-kg bag from $315 (Sh40,500) to $357 (Sh45,900).
Kenya’s beans continued to command premium markets in Europe, North America, and Asia, with Belgium, the United States, Germany, South Korea, and Sweden among the top destinations.
Coffee fetched the highest average prices in Europe at $369 (Sh47,472) per bag, followed by Asia at $362 (Sh46,597).
Production and Yields
National production increased slightly to 49.5 million kg, supported by both estates and smallholder societies.
Estates harvested 14.6 million kg, while smallholders maintained 84,950 hectares under coffee.
Yields improved to 452 kg per hectare, with estates averaging higher productivity than smallholder farms.
The total value of coffee production rose from $204.5 million (Sh26.3 billion) in 2022/2023 to $229.6 million (Sh29.5 billion) in 2023/2024, driven by higher output and stronger global prices.
Coffee Auctions and Local Market
The Nairobi Coffee Exchange posted its best performance in a decade, selling 41,617 metric tons worth $189.3 million (Sh24.4 billion), up from 32,652 metric tons valued at $127.9 million (Sh16.5 billion) the previous year.
Domestic consumption also showed steady growth, reaching 2,062 metric tons, up from 2,051 metric tons in 2022/2023.
Over the last decade, local coffee drinking has expanded from just 1% of production to over 4%, boosted by youth-driven coffee culture and the rapid growth of coffee shops.
Outlets have more than tripled in recent years, from 231 in 2019 to 757 in 2022, with Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret leading the trend.
Interestingly, coffee imports also grew, with Kenya bringing in 1.77 million kg (29,504 bags) worth $9.57 million (Sh1.23 billion), compared to 1.39 million kg the previous year.
