Coffee shipments from Uganda have declined for the third consecutive month in April 2018, reaching 295,184 bags and are 9.3 per cent lower than in April 2017 due to heavy rains that have hampered harvesting in the recent months, says the International Coffee Organisation in its May report.
The report however says the country’s total exports for October 2017 through April 2018 reached 2.69 million bags, 4.1 per cent higher than last year as a result of a larger crop in 2017/18, which is estimated to increase by 2.8 per cent to 5.1 million bags in 2017/18.
ICO attributes the country’s improved yields to the planting of improved varieties, more efficient supply of farm inputs, and better agricultural extension services.
Ethiopia, Africa’s number one producer of coffee, had its exports for the first seven months of coffee year 2017/18 increased 19.6 per cent to 1.86 million bags while its output in 2017/18 is provisionally estimated 4.8 per cent higher at 7.65 million bags due to timely rainfall.
Meanwhile, Global coffee exports amounted to 10.18 million bags in April 2018, compared with 9.50 million in April 2017, driven by an increase of 14.1 per cent for Robusta shipments and 6.8 per cent for Colombian Milds.
The ICO report estimates World production in 2017/18 at 159.66 million bags, 1.2 per cent greater than last year. Arabica output is expected to decline by 4.6 per cent to 97.43 million bags while Robusta production is predicted to grow by 12.1 per cent to 62.24 million bags.
Production is expected to grow in all regions except South America, which is estimated 6.1 per cent lower at 70.59 million bags. Output from Africa is estimated to rise by 3.2 per cent to 17.66 million bags. Production is expected to grow in eight of the ten largest coffee-producing countries.
Meanwhile Prices for all coffee groups rose in May 2018 following three months of declines, ICO says.
