NAIROBI: The top price of Kenya's benchmark coffee grade AA fell to $339 per 50 kg bag at auction this week from $375 at the previous sale, the Nairobi Coffee Exchange (NCE) said on Tuesday.

The NCE said in its weekly report that grade AA sold at $339-$175 per bag this week, compared with $375-$202 last week, when prices had also fallen.

Grade AB sold at $268-$136 per bag, compared with $319-$173 last week.

Kenya is a comparatively small grower but is renowned for its speciality beans, which are sought after for blending with those from other producing countries.

The exchange said 20,136 bags of coffee were offered for sale and 7,307 sold for a total of $1.6 million at an average price of $186.84 per bag.

Last week 19,211 bags of coffee were offered, with 8,224 sold for a total of $1.9 million at an average price of $191.70 per bag.