Uganda is stepping up efforts to expand coffee exports to Turkey as Kampala seeks to diversify beyond traditional European markets and tap into rising demand in emerging economies.
Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture last week signed a strategic partnership agreement with Turkish coffee distributor Kafe Kavil to promote Ugandan coffee in the Turkish market.
The initiative aims to increase sales of Uganda’s Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties while creating new commercial opportunities across the coffee value chain.
The partnership was launched during a coffee tasting and business networking event in Ankara organised by the Ugandan embassy in Turkey together with Kafe Kavil.
Importers, roasters, investors and industry professionals attended the event to sample Ugandan coffee products and discuss potential trade partnerships.
Aacha Mary Orikiriza, representing Uganda’s agriculture minister, said the agreement formed part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s presence in fast-growing coffee markets.
“Uganda is strengthening its presence in emerging coffee markets through partnerships that create direct engagement between producers, buyers and consumers,” she said.
She described the partnership with Kafe Kavil as an important step toward expanding international market access for Ugandan coffee exporters.
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Turkey has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing coffee import markets in recent years as changing consumer habits, café culture and rising urban demand fuel consumption.
According to Trade Map data, Turkey’s coffee imports more than doubled from $413 million in 2022 to $909 million in 2025.
Brazil remains the dominant supplier, accounting for more than 60 percent of Turkey’s imported coffee market.
Other major exporters to Turkey include the Netherlands, Colombia, Germany, Ethiopia and Italy.
Uganda already ranks among Turkey’s top 10 coffee suppliers but represented only around two percent of imports by value in 2025.
Officials say there is significant room for growth as Uganda seeks to increase its market share and reduce reliance on traditional export destinations such as the European Union.
Coffee remains Uganda’s leading agricultural export and one of the country’s most important sources of foreign exchange earnings.
Uganda’s coffee export revenues doubled to $2.2 billion during the 2024/2025 fiscal year, according to official figures, and the sector is expected to post another record performance during the current season.
The country has increased efforts in recent years to promote value addition, improve quality standards and expand access to non-traditional markets in the Middle East and Asia.
Analysts say growing demand in countries such as Turkey offers African coffee producers new opportunities to diversify trade relationships at a time when global coffee consumption patterns are evolving rapidly.
Uganda is among Africa’s largest coffee exporters and one of the world’s leading producers of Robusta coffee, although Arabica production has also expanded steadily in higher-altitude regions.
