In January, Kenyan coffee exports saw a significant increase, nearly doubling to 2,685 tonnes compared to the previous month, driven by strong demand for quality crops from the main production season of October-December. This surge led to a 72 percent rise in revenues, reaching KES2.1 billion (US$15.85M) from KES1.2 billion (US$9.1M) in December.
However, this improvement comes after a sharp decline in December, when exports hit a two-decade low at 1,478 tonnes. In 2023, Kenya exported 47,861 tonnes of coffee, generating US$251.86 million in revenue.
Despite these positive trends, the coffee sector faces challenges, with many farmers switching to more profitable ventures like real estate and avocado farming. To revitalize the industry, the government is implementing reforms such as a direct settlement system for faster payment, allocating US$37.72 million to support coffee farming, and introducing the Coffee Bill 2023 to reorganize the sector and enhance research. The African Union's declaration of coffee as a strategic crop further emphasizes the region's commitment to boosting farmer incomes and promoting value addition within Africa.
