Uganda’s coffee exports rose 21.7 percent in December from a year earlier, supported by higher yields and improved harvest conditions, the agriculture ministry said in a report released on Monday, reinforcing the crop’s role as a key foreign exchange earner for the East African nation.
Uganda shipped 502,582 60-kilogram bags of coffee during the month, up from the same period in 2024, according to the ministry. The increase reflects improved productivity in major growing regions following favourable weather and better farm management practices.
Coffee is Uganda’s second-largest export after gold and remains central to the country’s balance of payments. Uganda is also Africa’s largest coffee exporter, supplying global markets including the European Union, the United States and Asia.
The agriculture ministry said the rise in December shipments was driven mainly by higher yields, particularly in Robusta-growing areas in central and western Uganda. Improved rainfall distribution during the growing season supported flowering and bean development, while the gradual adoption of improved seedlings also contributed to output gains.
Uganda produces mostly Robusta coffee, which accounts for about 80 percent of total output, with the remainder made up of Arabica varieties grown in the eastern highlands of Mount Elgon and the western slopes of the Rwenzori Mountains. Robusta exports dominate shipments and are widely used in instant coffee and blends.
The export increase comes at a time of heightened volatility in global coffee markets. World coffee prices surged sharply in 2024 due to adverse weather, supply disruptions and disease pressures in key producing countries, including Ivory Coast, Ghana and Brazil. While prices have eased from record highs in recent months, they remain elevated compared with historical averages.
Higher prices, combined with increased export volumes, have helped support Uganda’s export earnings, although the government has not yet released full revenue figures for December shipments.
Uganda’s coffee sector has faced persistent challenges, including climate variability, pests and diseases, limited access to financing for smallholder farmers and fluctuating global prices. However, authorities say ongoing reforms and investment in the sector are beginning to yield results.
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The government has prioritised coffee as a strategic export under its agricultural transformation agenda, aiming to raise annual production through improved seedlings, expanded irrigation, better extension services and post-harvest handling. Uganda has also sought to increase value addition, encouraging domestic processing and the export of roasted and soluble coffee to reduce reliance on raw bean shipments.
In recent years, the country has expanded coffee acreage while promoting climate-resilient varieties to mitigate the impact of erratic rainfall and rising temperatures. Officials say these measures are essential to sustaining output growth amid increasing climate risks across East Africa.
Despite the December increase, exporters and policymakers remain cautious about the outlook. Rising production costs, including fertilisers and labour, continue to weigh on farmers’ margins, while logistical bottlenecks and currency volatility pose additional risks.
Analysts say Uganda’s strong export performance contrasts with supply pressures elsewhere in the region, where disease outbreaks and climate shocks have reduced production in some major cocoa and coffee-growing countries. This has strengthened Uganda’s position in global coffee markets, particularly for Robusta beans.
The agriculture ministry said it expects exports to remain firm in the coming months if weather conditions remain favourable and global demand holds steady. However, it warned that sustained investment would be required to maintain growth and protect smallholder farmers, who account for the bulk of production.
Coffee employs millions of Ugandans directly and indirectly and plays a critical role in rural livelihoods. Any sustained improvement in export volumes and earnings, officials say, would support household incomes, government revenues and overall economic stability.
