Uganda earned Shs 16 billion every single day from coffee exports in 2024, the highest in the country’s recorded history.
According to a report from the Coffee Production and Development Department in the ministry of Agriculture, the country exported 6.44 million bags worth $ 1.62 billion (roughly Shs 6 trillion) between February 2024 and January 2025.
In the same period last year, the country exported 6.20 million bags worth $ 984.60 million (Shs3.62 trillion).
Our coffee earnings of Shs 6 trillion last year translate into Shs 16 billion earned per day.
The boom in Uganda’s coffee exports last year was partly attributed to adverse weather conditions in big coffee-producing countries like Brazil which were affected by frosts, extreme heat, droughts, and erratic rainfall last year.
In 2024, average productivity across Brazilian coffee plantations dropped 1.9% compared to figures of the previous year.
According to the report, Uganda’s coffee exports in January 2025 amounted to 550,341 (60-kilo bags) worth $ 156.50 million (Shs575.1bn).
The report shows that the average export price in January 2025 was $ 4.74 per kilo, slightly higher than the $ 4.64 offered in December 2024.
Robusta coffee exports accounted for 88.3% of Uganda’s total exports in January 2025.
The report reveals that Ugacof (U) Ltd had the highest export market share of 15.30% compared to 16.98% in December 2024.
It was followed by Kawacom (U) Ltd 10.65%; Olam Uganda Ltd 7.32%, Louis Dreyfus Company (U) Ltd 6.90%, Jber Coffee Ltd 6.23%; Ideal Quality Commodities Ltd 5.81%; Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd 5.47%; Ibero (U) Ltd 4.78%; Touton Uganda Limited 4.21%, and DRK General Merchants Ltd 3.68%.
Italy was the major destination for our coffee with a market share of 36.94% followed by Belgium at 11.90%, India at 9.76%%, Sudan at 9.41%, and Germany at 8.30% (12.82%).
