Uganda coffee exports rise 7% in June

A total of 341,628 60-kilo bags of coffee valued at US $31.91 million were exported in June 2019, according to Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

According to UCDA latest report, the coffee exports in June comprised 253,625 bags of Robusta worth US $22.63 million and 85,003 bags of Arabica worth US $9.28 million.

“This was an increase of 7.08 per cent in quantity and a decrease of 4.65 per cent in value from the same month last year,” says UCDA report.

By comparing quantity of coffee exported by type in the same month of last coffee year (May 2018 and 2019), Robusta registered a percentage increase in quantity by 1.23 per cent and a decrease of 10.57 per cent in value. Arabica exports registered a percentage increase in both quantity and value (29.74 per cent and 13.70 per cent) respectively.

Meanwhile, coffee exports for nine months (October 2018 to June 2019) totaled to 3,137,118 bags worth US 310 million compared to 3,266,831 bags (US $357 million) the previous year a drop of 3.97 per cent and 13.17 per cent in quantity and value respectively.

On the other hand, coffee exports for the last 12 months (Financial Year 2018/19) amounted to 4.18 million bags worth US $416 million compared to 4.45 million worth US $492 million the previous year, a 6 per cent and 15 per centreduction in both quantity and value respectively . Some of the factors that led to this were: low global prices on account of higher global coffee supply which affected export prices and the after effect of the dry weather in south of the equator in 2018.

Uganda’s coffee Exports by destination

According to UCDA report, coffee exports to Italy had the highest market share in the month of June with 33.01 per cent compared to 30.61 per cent in May, it was followed by Germany with 11.71 per cent compared to 13.11 per cent in May, USA had 9.76 per cent in June compared to 13.75 per cent in May, India had share of 9.61 per cent compared to (7.78 per cent in May and Sudan had 6.04  per cent compared to 9.74 per cent in May.

Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 45,497 bags, a market share of 13.32 per cent compared to 50,569 (14.50 per cent) bags the previous month.

The figures in brackets represent percentage market share held in May 2019.

Europe remains the main destination for Uganda’s coffees.