Kenya launched its first fresh premium coffee exports after officially flagging off the first 20 containers of green coffee beans to Trieste Port, Italy.
The shipment, led by Sumseron Coffee and Tea Limited, signals Kenya’s effort to diversify its export destinations while increasing earnings for coffee farmers by providing access to high-value international markets.
Principal Secretary for Trade Regina Ombam, alongside PS Patrick Kilemi and officials from the State Department of Cooperatives, presided over the dispatch.
Ombam hailed the milestone as a proof of Kenya’s coffee reflecting the growing of international confidence in the quality of Kenyan coffee and the country’s ability to meet stringent global standards.
“This milestone is a testament to the resilience of Kenya’s coffee sector and our unwavering commitment to producing high-quality products that meet international standards,” Ombam said.
She also reaffirmed the government commitment to expanding its market access for Kenyan coffee through strategic trade engagement, including the Early Harvest Arrangement with China, while pursuing new export opportunities in Japan, Algeria, Kazakhstan and other emerging markets.
Kenya is leveraging to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock additional export opportunities across Africa as part of broader efforts to expand intra-African trade and strengthen the country’s export competitiveness.
Kenya positioning its coffee as a premium global product will ensure a better income and long-term sustainability for the sector, boosting production, improving quality and enhancing value addition, positioning the country compete on a global stage not just as a producer but as a brand synonymous with quality.