Kenya’s coffee exports reach 47,861 tonnes in 2023
KENYA – Kenya’s coffee exports for 2023 amounted to 47,861 tonnes out of the total production of 48,648 tonnes, generating revenue of US$251.86 million, according to Simon Chelugui, the cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.
Chelugui emphasized the resilience of Kenyan coffee on the global stage despite challenges such as fluctuating international prices and climate uncertainties. He made these remarks during the Kenya-Colombia Coffee Technical Cooperation Forum.
In September 2023, Kenya’s deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, and cabinet secretary of foreign and diaspora affairs Alfred Mutua visited the National Coffee Research Center (Cenicafé) in Colombia.
The aim of the visit was to foster collaboration with Colombia, leveraging its success in the global coffee market to enhance production, access global markets, and explore research opportunities.
Mutua expressed Kenya’s interest in cooperation on exchange programs, global market access, and research to improve coffee production and increase growers’ income. Gachagua emphasized the need for Kenya to learn from Colombia’s success.
Benson Apuoyo, the acting director of the Coffee Directorate at the Agriculture and Food Authority, highlighted that the key destinations for Kenya’s coffee include the United States, Belgium, Germany, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, Australia, Denmark, and Norway.
He noted that while coffee exports to African countries constituted less than 1 percent of the total exports, South Africa was the largest African destination.
Apuoyo explained ongoing government reforms, such as the rollout of the US$27.4 million Coffee Cherry Fund, aimed at providing farmers with accessible and affordable financing.
Kenya has been implementing various reforms to revive its coffee sector, including a US$37.72 million allocation to support coffee farming.
The funds, directed to the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund and production, aim to ensure a guaranteed minimum return of Kes 80 (US$0.50) per kilo, up from the previous Kes 60 (US$0.38).
As part of broader reforms, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange is set to come under the supervision of the Capital Markets Authority, aiming to enhance transparency in coffee trading and improve farmer incomes.
The overall agenda includes transitioning the NCE to The Coffee Exchange, and establishing a mechanism for fair and transparent trading activities.
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