Good Bean Coffee company, South Korea based coffee company has this week received a consignment of seven containers of approximately 134.4 metric tons Kenyan coffee from the Kikpelion District Cooperative Union Limited.
The direct export is a reprieve to Kenyan farmers who for a long time have seen dwindling returns on coffee due to price strangulation by intermediaries in the sector. The direct coffee export breakthrough is as a result of Kenya’s participation and marketing initiatives during the Coffee Expo Seoul which took place on July 2021 where Kenya was a portrait country.
Kenya’s main aim at Coffee Expo Seoul was to establish direct linkages for coffee export into South Korea which is the fourth largest consumer of Kenyan coffee after Belgium, Germany, and the United States. The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency, Kenya Investment Authority, Coffee Directorate, State Department of Trade and the Kenyan Embassy in Seoul represented the farmers who could not travel to the Coffee Expo Seoul due to Covid-19 restrictions experienced in 2021.
‘The deal inked by Good Beans Coffee Company in South Korea, will see Kenyan farmers earning close to USD 908,160 from the direct sale of 134.4 metric tons or an equivalent of 7 coffee containers. About 9,582 coffee farmers will receive an average of Ksh. 100 per Kilo, almost 3 times that of the current auction price of Ksh. 35’ Prof Joseph Kieyah, Chairman Head of the Coffee Sub-Sector Reforms Implementations Standing Committee. Sector Implementation Committee (CSIS).
This direct coffee export to South Korea is a major milestone under H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta’s coffee sub-sector reforms that are geared towards freeing farmers from the chains of predatory brokers.
‘The Coffee industry is the world’s 11th largest industry with an annual consumption of about 512 cups per capita and over a 110, 000 coffee cafes. This is a lucrative industry that Kenyan farmers can take advantage of in terms of market diversification for coffee. Our focus now should be driven towards value addition to ensure our farmers reap more profits as opposed to the selling coffee beans for further processing and repackaging’ Dr. Wilfred Marube, CEO Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency.
Currently, Belgium has toppled America as Kenya’s top export market for coffee with over Sh6.5 billion worth of coffee exported in the year to June 2021. This was nearly double what it bought in the prior year, overtaking the United States as the top buyer of the beverage. Besides South Korea, Europe and the United States of America, Kenyan Coffee has a market penetration capability in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA), which is the world’s biggest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has a united 55-member states of African Union and has a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of not less than USD 3.4 trillion and a market of more than 1.2 billion people.
Other markets prospects for Kenyan coffee include market linkages created during the Expo 2020 Dubai that aims at targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council.