Uganda’s coffee exports surged in May 2025, buoyed by a successful main harvest in the Masaka and south-western regions, according to the latest report from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). The country exported 793,445 bags of coffee beans (each weighing 60kg), marking a 43.6% increase compared to the same month in 2024.
This strong performance follows an already impressive April, when exports rose 75.8% year-on-year to 687,899 bags, demonstrating sustained growth in Uganda’s most valuable agricultural export.
Coffee was sold at an average price of $5.12 per kilogram in May, slightly lower than April’s $5.15/kg but significantly higher than May 2024’s $3.83/kg, reflecting a 91.9% increase in export value year-on-year.
“Coffee exports for twelve months (June 2024 to May 2025) totalled 7.4 million bags, generating $2.1 billion in revenue, compared to 6.1 million bags worth $1.1 billion during the same period the year before,” said the UCDA. This represents a 22.2% increase in quantity and an astonishing 93.6% rise in value.
The May 2025 exports were made up of:
691,176 bags of robusta, valued at $203.5 million
102,269 bags of arabica, valued at $40.5 million
Together, the coffee exports for May earned Uganda $244 million (UGX 869.9 billion)—a major boost to national revenue and foreign exchange reserves.
Uganda remains Africa’s top coffee exporter, despite Ethiopia growing more coffee overall. This is largely due to Uganda’s dominance in robusta production, which is more suited to its climate and lower altitudes. In contrast, Ethiopia produces mainly arabica coffee, which grows best in highland regions and commands higher prices on the international market.
The sharp growth in both export volumes and revenue highlights Uganda’s growing significance in the global coffee market and underlines the resilience of the sector, even in a challenging global economy.
The performance also reflects recent investments in:
Farmer training and input supply
Improved post-harvest handling
Expansion of coffee acreage, particularly in western and central Uganda
UCDA projects continued strong exports in the months ahead as harvesting extends to other regions, though global market dynamics and climatic factors remain key to long-term performance.
