Kenya is seeking to increase its coffee
market share in the United States through stronger ties between US investors
and local stakeholders, Agriculture
Cabinet Secretary Willy Bett has said.
“The volume and value of coffee
exported to the USA has been increasing
gradually in the last six years. This
growth of Kenya’s coffee export to the
US has been attributed to persistent
promotional campaigns done in the US
during the Specialty Coffee Association
of America,” Bett said yesterday.
Kenya’s coffee exports to the US
increased from slightly above four million
kilos in 2010-11 to more than seven
million kilos in 2014-15 financial year.
Between 2010 and 2011, Kenya experienced
a depression in coffee exports.
Following the increase, earnings
grew from $30 million (Sh3.06 billion) in
2010-11 to $39 million (Sh3.97 billion) in
2014-15.
The United States is the third
largest Kenyan coffee importer with
coffee priced the highest at $240.10
(Sh24,463) for 50 kilos in 2015-16
financial year.
This was, however, a drop from
$264.76 (Sh26,976) for 50 kilos in the
2014-15.
Kenya has been a member of the
specialty Coffee Association of America
since 2002, and won the 2017 SCAA
Portrait Country status for the SCAA
Symposium and Exposition.
This has
facilitated talks to brew Kenyan coffee
in hotels and coffee houses in Seattle
during the event.
“For us as a country, to increase our
global market share, we understand the
need to have a closer and healthier relationship
with the buyers both current
and prospective,” Bett said.
He was speaking in Nairobi during a
meeting with global coffee buyers.
Through the Kenyan government, the
SCAA management will embark on a trip
to engage American coffee buyers by allowing
direct interaction with the Kenyan
coffee industry value chain players.
On June 9, President Uhuru Kenyatta
received the coffee taskforce report recommending
that farmers be paid at least
40 per cent of the prevailing price.
The
report also proposed that Sh200 million
be set aside to market Kenyan coffee.