Uganda Coffee Exports Break Annual Record as Global Demand Drives Premium Prices
For Immediate Release
KAMPALA, UGANDA — Uganda's coffee export volumes have broken the country's annual record, with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority reporting shipments of over 7 million bags for the year — the first time Uganda has reached this milestone. The achievement comes as global coffee prices have risen sharply, driven by supply shortfalls in Brazil and Vietnam, meaning Uganda's record volume translates into an even more significant gain in foreign exchange earnings.
Uganda produces both Robusta and Arabica varieties, with Robusta grown primarily in the Lake Victoria basin region accounting for the majority of export volume. The country's Arabica, grown in the highlands of Mount Elgon and the Rwenzori Mountains, commands premium pricing in specialty coffee markets and has been the focus of quality improvement programmes supported by international development agencies.
The export record reflects several years of investment in farmer training, post-harvest handling, and certification programmes that have improved both the volume and quality profile of Uganda's coffee output. The Uganda Coffee Development Authority's extension services have reached an expanded number of smallholder farmers, with improved agronomic practices delivering yield gains across both producing regions.
Global specialty coffee buyers — particularly from Japan, South Korea, the United States, and Western Europe — have shown growing interest in Ugandan Arabica as the country's quality reputation has strengthened. Direct trade relationships between Ugandan cooperatives and international roasters have grown, with several Ugandan coffees earning recognition at international cupping competitions that raises their profile with premium buyers.
"Uganda's coffee sector and its gold sector share something important: both are built on the productivity of large numbers of smallholder producers. When the country gets the support structures right — training, fair pricing, market access, infrastructure — the aggregate result is remarkable. Breaking the coffee export record in a year of high global prices is a very good outcome for hundreds of thousands of farming families." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold
The foreign exchange contribution from the record coffee season is particularly significant for Uganda's economy. Coffee and gold are the country's two largest export earners, and a strong performance from both in the same period creates a positive outlook for Uganda's balance of payments position and its capacity to fund infrastructure development and public services.
The record comes as Uganda continues to develop its coffee processing capacity, with several new washing stations and dry mills commissioned over the past two years. Increased domestic processing means more of the value chain is retained within Uganda rather than being captured by importing countries, a pattern that mirrors the broader ambition in Uganda's minerals sector to process rather than simply export raw materials.
"There is a consistent theme across Uganda's major export sectors — a move toward retaining more value within the country. In coffee, that means processing, certification, and direct relationships with premium buyers. In minerals, it means assaying, documentation, and proper export channels. The direction of travel is the same, and it is the right direction. Uganda's record coffee season is a reminder of what the country can achieve when these systems work well." Marcus Briggs, Non-Executive Director, Icon Gold
Uganda's government has signalled its intention to reach 20 million bags of annual coffee production by 2030, a target that would place the country among the world's top five coffee exporters. The current record season provides an encouraging data point toward that ambition, though achieving the target will require continued investment in new planting, farmer support, and post-harvest infrastructure.
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