Coffee auction will take another break following two holidays this week that affected production in growing areas.
Wednesday and the voting day, on Thursday, were declared public holidays affecting farm and factory activities.
This is the third suspension this year, the first two having been informed by poor supply.
“Next week’s auction has been postponed until the week after to allow coffee traders time to cup the produce they have collected this week,” Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) chief executive Daniel Mbithi said.
Coffee prices in the meanwhile rose seven per cent this week helped by quality beans trickling in from central Kenya. Market data from the NCE show the average price of a 50-kilo bag traded at Sh19,776 from Sh18,540 last week.
“Today’s auction prices showed a slight improvement on account of better quality coffees from Mt Kenya region as we witness less from the lower Eastern,” said Mr Mbithi.
The main crop from Mt Kenya region is expected at the auction starting November as supply from eastern Kenya fizzles out.
Coffee earnings as at the end of August 2017 rose 10 per cent due to high demand by roasters as shortages hit the country.
NCE said in a report that the crop earned Kenya Sh15.3 billion in the year ending August compared with Sh13.9 billion realised in a corresponding period in 2016.
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