Kenya’s coffee export earnings jump to Sh37.7 billion in 2023/2024
The country’s coffee reached key global markets, including Belgium, the USA, Germany, South Korea, and Sweden, demonstrating Kenya’s strategic presence in high-value destinations.
Kenya’s coffee industry has recorded significant growth, earning 292.88 million (about Sh37.7 billion) from exports in the 2023/2024 coffee year, according to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Coffee Yearbook 2023–2024.
Export volumes increased from 799,275 bags in 2022/2023 to 819,985 bags in 2023/2024, with the average export price per 60-kg bag rising from $315.44(about Sh40,500)to $357.18(about Sh45,900).
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The country’s coffee reached key global markets, including Belgium, the USA, Germany, South Korea, and Sweden, demonstrating Kenya’s strategic presence in high-value destinations.
National coffee production in Kenya increased from 48,648,541 kg in 2022/2023 to 49,501,222 kg in 2023/2024. Production from estates rose slightly from 14,160,448 kg to 14,626,257 kg, while smallholder societies contributed 84,950 hectares of land to coffee farming.
The overall national yield improved from 444.75 kg per hectare to 452.48 kg per hectare, with estates achieving a higher yield of 578.11 kg/ha and smallholder societies producing 414.69 kg/ha.
The European market remained the largest importer, followed by North America and Asia. Key destinations included Belgium, the USA, Germany, South Korea, and Sweden.
Kenyan coffee fetched the highest average prices in Europe at $369.15 (Sh47,472) per 60 kg bag, followed by Asia at $362.57 (Sh46,597) and Australia at $353.99 (Sh45,468).
The total value of coffee production increased from $204.53 million (about Sh26.3 billion) in 2022/2023 to $229.55 million (about Sh29.5 billion) in 2023/2024, reflecting both higher output and improved market prices.
Coffee imports also rose, with total import weight increasing from 1,392,317 kg (23,205 bags) to 1,770,257 kg (29,504 bags) and import value from USD 6,109,862 (about Sh786 million) to USD 9,568,546 (about Sh1.23 billion).
Domestic coffee consumption also increased, from 2,051 metric tons in 2022/2023 to 2,062 metric tons in 2023/2024. Over the last ten years, domestic consumption grew from 1 per cent of national production in 2014/2015 to 4.17 per cent in 2023/2024.
The rise in domestic consumption has been driven by growing youth interest in coffee culture and continuous campaigns by the Coffee Directorate and stakeholders.
The Nairobi Coffee Exchange also saw higher activity, with coffee volumes rising from 32,651,992 kg (653,040 bags) in 2022/2023 to 41,616,589 kg (676,903 bags) in 2023/2024.
The number of coffee outlets across the country expanded from 231 in 2019 to 757 in 2022, with coffee shops and hotels in major towns such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret contributing to higher consumption. Per capita coffee consumption for 2023/2024 is estimated at 0.04 kg per person.
Auction performance reached the highest volumes in the last ten years. Coffee sold at the auction increased from 32,652 metric tons in 2022/2023 to 41,617 metric tons in 2023/2024, while the value of sales rose from $127.86 million (about Sh16.47 billion) to $189.29 million (about Sh24.35 billion).
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