Uganda Coffee Exports Rise on Harvest Gains, Earnings Hit by Price Drop

Mintesinot Niggusie

Uganda’s coffee export earnings fell in March despite higher shipment volumes, reflecting weaker global prices even as production improved, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

The country shipped 671,152 60-kilogramme bags of coffee during the month, a 2.9 percent increase compared with the same period a year earlier. The ministry said the rise was driven by improved output from the latest crop season, which supported higher export volumes.

However, export value declined over the same period. Coffee earnings in March fell 13.6 percent year on year, as lower international prices offset the increase in volumes, the report said.

Coffee remains one of Uganda’s key foreign exchange earners, with the country ranking as Africa’s largest coffee exporter, followed by Ethiopia.

Over the 12 months to March, Uganda generated 2.4 billion US dollars from coffee exports, up from 1.8 billion US dollars in the previous corresponding period, the ministry said, indicating a stronger full-year performance despite monthly price volatility.