Uganda’s coffee exports for the last 12 (November 2017 to October 2018) totalled to 4.27 million bags worth US $454 million comprising Robusta 3.19 million bags worth US $322 million and Arabica 1.11 million bags worth US $140 million, according to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
Meanwhile, UCDA in its October report says coffee exports during the month amounted to 350,743 60-kilo bags worth US $ 35.22 million. This comprised 242,870 bags (US $23.59 million) of Robusta and 107,873 bags (US $11.62 million) of Arabica. This was a decrease of 8.09 per cent and 19.48 per cent in quantity and value respectively from the same month last year.
By comparing quantity of coffee exported by type in the same month of last coffee year (September 2017/18 and 2018/19), both Robusta and Arabica registered a percentage decrease in both Quantity and Value; Robusta (6.36 per cent and 17.08 per cent) respectively, Arabica (11.80 per cent and 23.93 per cent) respectively. Coffee exports for a year were 10.56 per cent and 19.61 per cent lower in both quantity and value respectively compared to the previous year.
Some of the factors that led to this were: Low global prices on account of higher crop in Brazil which affected export prices as well as lower production from the main harvest in Masaka and South-Western regions compared to the previous year, new trees coming into production notwithstanding.
Uganda’s coffee exports by destination
Coffee exports to EU countries amounted to 243,964 bags higher than 179,978 bags exported in the previous month. This represented a 69.56 per cent of total exports. EU was followed by Sudan with 29,020 bags (8.27 per cent) compared to 45,454 bags (15.50 per cent) the previous month.
USA imported 15,794 (4.50 per cent) compared to 16,627 (5.67 per cent), India 12,164 bags (4.15 percent) compared to 18,520 (5.31 per cent) and Morocco 8,100 (2.76 per cent) compared to 14,292(4.10 per cent).
Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 44,304 bags, a market share of 13 per cent compared to 60,699 (20.70 per cent) bags exported in the previous month.