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| (photo: toafrica.net) |
Tanzania's arabica coffee prices rose at auction last week, tracking higher New York markets as demand increased, the regulator Tanzania Coffee Board (TCB) said on Tuesday.
Prices of robusta coffee beans fell at the second auction of the season, but all the bags on offer were sold.
Tanzania, Africa's fourth-largest coffee producer after Ethiopia, Uganda and Ivory Coast, produces mainly arabica and some robusta coffee. Prices of its arabica normally track the New York market while those of robusta take their cue from London.
The state-run TCB said a total of 17,235 60-kg bags were offered at the latest sale and that 15,091 bags were purchased. At the previous sale, a total of 25,693 60-kg bags had been offered for sale, with 25,560 bags sold.
East African coffee is normally packed in 60-kg bags, but the prices are quoted for quantities of 50 kg.
"Overall average prices at the Moshi exchange were up by $5.95 per 50 kg for mild arabica, while robusta prices were down by $1.63 per 50 kg compared to the last auction," TCB said in its auction report.
"Average prices were above the terminal market by $8.98 per 50 kg for mild arabica and robusta were above the terminal market by $13.78 per 50 kg."