Kenyan Coffee Volume, Quality and Prices Down Due to Cold and Dry Weather

Kenyan coffee producers' hopes for high production and high prices in 2022 have been dashed following the persistent cold and dry weather that the country has experienced this year. As a result of continuous flowering, farmers have been picking their produce every two weeks at the backdrop of declined production, reduced berry size and lower quality beans. Production has decreased by about 20% compared to 2021 and producers have registered a slowed maturity rate due to the ongoing cold weather. The consequence of this is that Kenya will have higher volumes of low grade coffee and lower volumes of premium grades compared to previous seasons.

Previously, farmers have been producing premium grade AA in large volumes but that is not the case this year. Production and delivery of lower grades to the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) has contributed to lower prices for a 50kg bag due to lower demand. Coffee fetched an average of USD 298.38/50kg bag in W38 compared to about USD 397.87-447.58/50kg bag during the same period last year. Kenyan premium grade AA is actually fetching less than the average of $298.38 which has not been the case before.