Uganda’s coffee export earnings increased by 13% in August

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda saw a rise in the value and volume of its coffee exports for August, according to a report released by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). The country earned USD 221.63 million in August, up from USD 210 million in July, marking a 13 percent increase. This difference of USD 11.6 million translates to UGX 41.7 billion.

In August, Uganda exported 837,915 bags of coffee, each weighing 60 kilograms, which is 16,748 more bags than in July. Over the past twelve months, from September 2023 to August 2024, the total coffee exports reached 6.39 million bags worth USD 1.35 billion. This shows a significant rise compared to the same period in 2022-2023 when the country exported 6.08 million bags valued at USD 918.41 million.

UCDA attributes the increase in exports to bumper harvests in various coffee-growing regions. It also projects that exports could reach 700,000 bags in September as more stocks are released. The report highlights that global coffee prices have been rising due to supply shortages caused by prolonged dry spells in major coffee producers like Brazil and Vietnam, contributing to Uganda’s export value increase.

This rise comes as UCDA is working to register all coffee farmers as part of a National Traceability System, a requirement set by the European Union to maintain access to international markets. The EU remains Uganda’s largest importer, accounting for over 70% of the country’s coffee exports.

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