Uganda’s coffee sector is riding an unprecedented wave of growth, according to the Monthly Coffee Report for April 2025 from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
In April alone, the country exported 694,318 60-kilogram bags of coffee, earning USD 214.38 million. This represents a staggering 152.56% increase in value and 77.44% growth in volume compared to April 2024. These gains are not merely seasonal they reflect deeper economic and global market shifts that have aligned in Uganda’s favor.
One of the key drivers of this boom is a strong domestic harvest, especially from the Masaka and South Western regions, which benefitted from favorable weather during the main harvest season.
The surge in volume was largely attributed to Robusta coffee, which saw exports rise by over 104.63% in quantity and an even more impressive 187.61% in value. Although Arabica exports dipped slightly by 0.8% in quantity, the value increased by 60%, highlighting growing global demand for higher-grade beans.
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Beyond Uganda’s borders, global supply constraints have created a strategic opening. Major producers like Brazil and Vietnam—the world’s top Arabica and Robusta exporters respectively—have experienced prolonged dry conditions, leading to supply shortfalls and rising international prices.
As a result, global buyers have turned to Uganda as a stable and increasingly high-quality source of coffee. This shift is evident in the rise in Uganda’s average export price to USD 5.15 per kilogram in April 2025, up from USD 3.62 per kilogram in the same month last year.
The report also notes a broadening of Uganda’s export markets, with Italy maintaining the lead at 42.02% of total exports, followed by Germany, Spain, India, and Sudan.
A notable development is the entry of Turkey as a growing destination, boosted by Uganda’s active participation at the Coffex Expo in Istanbul and the opening of a Ugandan coffee warehouse in the country. These efforts, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Uganda’s Embassy in Ankara, are expanding market access and building brand recognition for Ugandan coffee.
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Despite this strong performance, the report signals a need for sustained focus on value addition and sustainability. Sustainable Arabica fetched the highest price at USD 8.70 per kilogram, underscoring the premium that global buyers are willing to pay for traceable, environmentally responsible coffee. With global consumption rising and climate risks reshaping supply chains, Uganda has a unique opportunity to not just grow volumes, but also lead in quality and ethical sourcing.
Looking ahead, coffee exports for May and June 2025 are projected at 680,000 bags, suggesting that the upward trend may hold steady. Continued support for farmers, stronger post-harvest practices, and strategic market engagement will be key to ensuring Uganda not only sustains but also capitalizes on this coffee renaissance.
The April 2025 report is a clear signal: Uganda is no longer a silent player in the global coffee arena. With the right investments and policy focus, the country is poised to become a leading force in the global coffee economy.
