Uganda Collects Shs265 Billion from Coffee Exports in August

Uganda picked up $75.09 million (about Shs265 billion) after exporting 700,990 bags of coffee weighing 60kgs each in August.

According to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), this was an increase of 34.89% and 63.06% in quantity and value respectively compared to the same month last year.

The East African nation exported 636,458 bags of Robusta valued at $65.24 million and 64.532 bags of Arabica valued at $9.85million in August.

Comparing year-over-year growth, 6.41 million bags worth $607.81m were exported from September 2020 to August 2021 compared to 5.22 million bags worth $502.24m that were sold from September 2019 to August 2020.

“This represents an increase of 23% and 21% in both quantity and value respectively,” UCDA said in its report released today.

“80% of the total volume was exported by 10 exporters, out of 40 companies which performed during the month compared to 75% in June 2021.”

The Authority says the rise in Robusta exports was due to newly planted coffee which started yielding supported by favorable weather.

“This was also compounded by a positive trend in global coffee prices in the month of July and August as Brazil faced the threat of frost, which prompted exporters to release their stocks,” further says the report.

“The modest increase in Arabica coffee exports with a correspondingly high increase in value compared to the same month last year was on account of higher global coffee prices as mentioned above. Lower Arabica proportion in the export mix is a result of the off-year biennial cycle.”

Italy remains the main destination of Uganda’s coffee, scooping up 34.02% of the export share, followed by Germany at 13.39%, then Sudan at 10.43%, Algeria (10.22%) and India (7.76%).

Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 169,383 bags, a market share of 24% compared to 147,652 bags in July.

Other African countries that bought Uganda coffee include Morocco, Kenya, Egypt, Madagascar and Somalia. Europe remained the main destination for Uganda’s coffees with a 61% imports share.