Uganda’s coffee export earnings fell by about 10 percent in April from a year earlier as declining global prices offset strong shipment volumes, according to a report released by the agriculture ministry on Monday.
Coffee, Uganda’s leading export commodity and a major source of foreign exchange earnings, generated US$155.5 million in export revenues during the month, down from US$173.4 million recorded in April 2025.
The decline came as international coffee prices retreated from the elevated levels seen earlier in the year, reflecting easing supply concerns in key producing countries and changing market dynamics.
“Coffee prices during the month declined in line with the decrease at the global level,” the ministry said in its monthly performance report.
Uganda is Africa’s largest coffee exporter and one of the world’s leading producers of robusta coffee. The crop supports millions of smallholder farmers and plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, contributing significantly to export earnings, employment and rural livelihoods.
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The East African nation has in recent years intensified efforts to expand coffee production and increase export volumes as part of a broader strategy to boost foreign exchange earnings and strengthen economic growth.
Despite the decline in April revenues, the ministry’s data showed that Uganda’s coffee sector continued to perform strongly over a longer period.
In the 12 months to April, the country earned approximately US$2.4 billion from coffee exports, representing a 24 percent increase compared with the previous 12-month period.
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The strong annual performance underscores the resilience of the sector, which has benefited from rising global demand, expanded cultivation areas and government-backed initiatives aimed at improving productivity and quality.
Coffee remains Uganda’s most valuable agricultural export, accounting for a substantial share of the country’s foreign exchange receipts. The government has identified the commodity as a key pillar of its economic transformation agenda and has set ambitious targets to increase both production and export earnings over the coming years.
Officials have encouraged farmers to adopt improved agronomic practices, expand acreage and invest in quality enhancement measures to maintain competitiveness in international markets.
The coffee industry has also benefited from increasing interest from buyers in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, where demand for both robusta and arabica varieties remains strong.
However, the sector remains vulnerable to fluctuations in international commodity prices, weather conditions and global economic developments that can influence demand and supply patterns.
Analysts note that coffee prices surged in recent years due to adverse weather conditions in major producing countries, including Brazil and Vietnam, as well as concerns about supply disruptions. Those factors helped drive export earnings higher for producing countries such as Uganda.
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Recent signs of improved production prospects in some major coffee-growing regions, however, have contributed to softer prices on international markets.
For Uganda, maintaining export growth will depend not only on production increases but also on efforts to add value to coffee before export and diversify export markets.
The government has repeatedly emphasised the need to move up the value chain by promoting local processing and branding, rather than relying primarily on exports of raw beans.
Agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy, employing a majority of the population and contributing significantly to gross domestic product.
As one of the country’s most important cash crops, coffee continues to play a central role in supporting household incomes and generating foreign exchange needed to finance imports and economic development.
While April’s decline in earnings highlights the impact of global price movements on export revenues, the strong performance recorded over the past year suggests that Uganda’s coffee sector remains on a solid footing and continues to be a key driver of the country’s export growth.
