Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda’s coffee sector posted another month of strong performance in April 2025, exporting 694,318 60-kilogramme bags valued at $214.38 million, according to a new report by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
This marks a dramatic year-on-year increase of 77.44% in volume and 152.56% in value, positioning Uganda among the most vibrant players in the global coffee trade.
“The spike in both volume and value of coffee exports in April reflects the favourable harvest in Masaka and southwestern Uganda, as well as the ripple effects of global supply uncertainties,” UCDA stated in its Monthly Coffee Report released over the weekend.
Dry weather conditions in Brazil and Vietnam, the world’s top producers, have disrupted global supply, creating opportunities for producers like Uganda.
Robusta coffee remained the dominant export, making up 594,188 bags (86% of total exports) and earning $177.08 million, while Arabica contributed 100,130 bags valued at $37.3 million.
Compared to April 2024, Robusta exports surged by 104.63% in volume and 187.61% in value.
Arabica volumes, however, dipped slightly by 0.8%, although its value rose by 60% due to improved pricing.
“Ugandan coffee is increasingly fetching premium prices globally. The average export price rose to $5.15 per kilo, a cent higher than in March and $1.53 above the average in April last year,” UCDA said in the monthly report.
Sustainable Arabica fetched the highest price, at US$8.70 per kilogram, underscoring the rising global demand for specialty and traceable coffee.
Drugar, a popular Arabica variant from Uganda, sold at $6.54 per kilo, slightly lower than $6.67 in March, but accounted for 55% of all Arabica exports—up from 39% the previous month.
Robusta’s top-performing grade, Screen 18, earned $5.33 per kilogram, while Washed Robusta followed closely at $5.31.
The report shows that total exports for the coffee year from May 2024 to April 2025 reached 7.17 million bags worth $1.97 billion.
This marks a 21.7% increase in volume and an impressive 94.64% rise in export earnings compared to the same period the previous year.
Ugacof (U) Ltd retained the top spot among exporters, commanding a 12.58% market share.
Other major players included Export Trading Company, Ideal Quality Commodities, Olam Uganda, and Louis Dreyfus Uganda Ltd.
The top ten exporters together accounted for 68.43% of total volumes exported, slightly up from 68% in March.
“These figures reflect healthy competition among exporters and strong private sector engagement,” UCDA noted.
Italy continued to lead as the largest importer of Ugandan coffee, taking in 42.02% of April’s exports, up from 38.43% in March.
Germany, Spain, India, and Sudan followed. European markets collectively absorbed 71% of Uganda’s coffee, while exports to African countries remained steady at 11%.
Sucafina emerged as the top foreign buyer, with a 12.67% share, followed by Louis Dreyfus, Olam International, Ecom Agro Industrialist, and Touton SA.
The top ten foreign buyers took in 55.48% of Uganda’s April exports.
Meanwhile, Uganda actively promoted its coffee abroad. From May 9 to 11, Uganda showcased its fine Robusta and specialty Arabicas at the Coffex Istanbul Expo through a vibrant presence coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Uganda Embassy in Ankara.
“Our presence in Turkey was a success,” said a UCDA representative who participated in the expo.
“The brew bar, cupping sessions, and networking events helped generate strong leads. The establishment of a Ugandan coffee warehouse in Turkey is a major step towards strengthening our market presence in that region.”
The Turkish coffee market, currently valued at $317 million, is projected to grow by 54% by 2030. UCDA recommended intensifying branding efforts and strengthening public-private collaboration to ensure Uganda’s coffee captures more of this market.
Back home, however, farmers saw a dip in farm-gate prices in April. Robusta Kiboko averaged Shs 7,200 per kilogram, down from Shs7,600 the previous month.
FAQ (Fair Average Quality) was at Shs14,500, also down from Shs15,250.
Arabica parchment ranged between Shs14,500 and Shs15,000, while Drugar fetched between Shs14,000 and Shs14,500.
Despite the local price dip, optimism remains high.
“We are in a favourable position globally,” said a UCDA economist. “Our job is to ensure that this global demand translates into sustained income for our farmers, especially as climate shocks continue to shape supply chains.”
Globally, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) forecasts a modest rise in world coffee production for 2024/25 to 174.9 million bags, mainly due to recovery in Vietnam and Indonesia.
But consumption is projected to grow even faster—by 5.1 million bags to 168.1 million, particularly in the EU, U.S., and China.
“The tightening global stocks and growing consumption are a signal that Uganda should stay the course on value addition, quality improvement, and aggressive marketing,” UCDA concluded.
As Uganda eyes new frontiers and consolidates old ones, its position in the global coffee trade seems stronger than ever—with sustained efforts needed to ensure that both farmers and exporters benefit from the bullish market trends.
Source: Nilepost News
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