Uganda sustains high coffee earnings, hits USD289.6 million in July despite global price slump

August 27, 2025 in Business, Trade & Industry by Editor

Highlights of their assessment include the view that the economic recovery is strengthening with low inflation, favorable agricultural production, and strong industrial and services activity.

Uganda’s coffee sector continued to deliver strong export earnings, fetching USD289.6 million in July, despite falling global prices. Shipments rose sharply in both volume and value compared to the same month last year.

Data from the Coffee Development Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), shows that the country exported 997,105 60-kg bags worth USD 289.60 million  (UGX 898.8 billion) in July. This represents a 21.38pc increase in volume and 19.08pc increase in value compared to July 2024.

The growth was driven by a bumper harvest in major coffee-growing regions, especially Greater Masaka and South Western Uganda. Robusta exports rose 18.4pc in quantity and 11.4pc in value, while Arabica surged by 68.2pc in quantity and an impressive 140.9pc in value, underscoring rising demand for Uganda’s premium beans.

However, export prices trended lower. The average price per kilogram fell to USD4.19, down from US$4.76 in June 2025 and US$4.27 in July 2024. MAAIF attributed the decline to signs of increased supply from Vietnam and the arrival of Brazil’s new harvest, which have exerted downward pressure on international prices.

Still, the sector is on track for a record year. Over the twelve months to July 2025, Uganda exported 7.93 million bags worth USD $2.25 billion (UGX 8.07 trillion) — up from 6.88 million bags worth USD 1.41 billion in the previous year. This marks a 15.3pc rise in quantity and an extraordinary 59.4pc jump in value, highlighting the resilience of Uganda’s coffee economy.

Export concentration remained high, with the top 10 companies accounting for 65pc of July’s shipments, out of 91 exporters. The highest average price was recorded by Wugar at US$7.20 per kilogram.

At the farmgate, prices in July averaged UGX 5,250 per kilogram for Robusta Kiboko, UGX 10,250 for FAQ, UGX 13,750 for Arabica parchment, and UGX 12,500 for Drugar.

For the first ten months of the 2024/25 coffee year (October 2024–July 2025), Uganda exported 6.55 million bags worth USD 1.88 billion, up from 4.98 million bags worth USD 1.03 billion in the same period the previous year.

Looking ahead, UCDA expects earnings to remain robust as volumes improve, though global oversupply and volatile prices could weigh on farmer incomes.