Uganda's Coffee Exports Rise 38% to $718 Million in 2021

"Increasing coffee exports during the month compared to the previous year was due to newly planted coffee which started yielding supported by favorable weather. The positive trend in global coffee prices were attributed to weather-related issues in Brazil and shortage of shipping containers which prompted exporters to release their stocks."

by Nicholas Agaba

posted onJanuary 18, 2022

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Uganda earned US $718.57 million from exporting 6.77 million bags of coffee in 2021, registering an increase of 38% and 23% in both quantity and value respectively, according to Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

The UCDA report shows that from Jan. to Dec. of 2020, 5.49 million bags worth $520.01 million were sold.

In Dec. of 2021, 536,889 60-kilo bags of coffee valued at US$75.25m were sold, higher than $71.09 million fetched from exporting 524,902 bags in November.

"72% of the total volume was exported by 10 exporters out of 49 companies which performed during the month compared to 80% in November 2021," reads the report.

"Increasing coffee exports during the month compared to the previous year was due to newly planted coffee which started yielding supported by favorable weather. The positive trend in global coffee prices was attributed to weather-related issues in Brazil and shortage of shipping containers which prompted exporters to release their stocks."

In the month of December, 452,55 bags of Robusta valued at $55.26 million and 84,301 bags of Arabica valued at $19.99 million were sold.

The top exporting companies are Ugacof (U) Ltd (15.15%), Ideal Quality Commodities Ltd (10.74%), Kawacom (U) Ltd (8.17%), Olam Uganda Ltd (7.36%), Touton Uganda Limited (6.35%), Ibero (U) Ltd (5.73%), Louis Dreyfus Company (U) Ltd (5.62%), Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd (4.81%), Besmark Coffee Company Ltd (4.22%), and Export Trading Company (U) Ltd (4.00%).

According to UCDA, Italy maintained the highest market share with 37.11% compared with 32.76% last month.

It was followed by Germany 17.38% (17.43%), Sudan 5.99% (3.39%) USA 4.68% (4.66%) and Spain 4.62% (4.83%). [The figures in brackets represent the percentage market share held in November 2021.]

Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 88,546 bags, a market share of 16% compared to 83,803 bags (16%) the previous month. African countries included Algeria, Sudan, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya.

Europe remained the main destination for Uganda’s coffee with a 70% imports share.