UGANDA – One of Africa’s leading coffee exporting countries Uganda, earned US$ 46.06 million from exports of 519,683 bags of coffee each weighing 60kg.

According to data by Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), this was an increase of 6.30% in quantity and a 0.55% decrease in value compared to the same month last year.

The authority further noted that coffee exports for the 12 months (September 2019 to August 2020) amounted to 5,216,608 bags worth US$502.45 million compared to 4,379,007 bags worth US$429.02 million of the previous year.

This represents 19.13% and 17.12% increase in both quantity and value respectively.

By type, the exported amount in August comprised of 457,897 bags of Robusta which earned US$38.16m, a 10.35% and 0.18% increase in quantity and value from the same period the previous year.

For Arabica, the bags exported were 61,786 bags worth US$7.90 million. This was a 16.4% decrease in quantity and 3.92% decline in value.

UCDA noted that despite the increasing incidence of COVID-19 incidence globally, there was an increase in Uganda’s exports attributed to increased production on account of fruition of the newly planted coffee and favourable weather.

It is also attributed to the movement of cargo across the borders, logistical issues such as lack of containers notwithstanding.

Coffee exports for the 12 months (September 2019 to August 2020) amounted to 5,216,608 bags worth US$502.45 million.

Uganda Coffee Development Authority

Leading exporters and importers

76.35% of the total volume was exported by 10 exporters, out of 41 companies which performed during the month compared to 81.93% in July 2020, reflecting reducing concentration.

The leading exporting companies for the period included Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd maintained the highest market share of 13.62%, followed by Ugacof 12.39%; Ideal Quality Commodities Ltd 12.06%; Louis Dreyfus Company Ltd 7.98%; Olam Ltd 6.77%; Kawacom Ltd 6.76%; and Touton Uganda Limited 5.58%.

On the other hand, the top 10 buyers held a market share of 68.93% of total exports higher than 67.08% the previous month.

Altasheel Import & Export Enterprises led with a market share of 11.32% compared to 11.40% in July 2020. It was followed by Sucafina 10.18%; Olam International 10.12%; Ecom Agro Industrial 5.97%; Volcafe 5.88%; Cofftea 5.42%.

The destinations of Uganda’s coffee exports during the month included Italy, who maintained the highest market share with 29.38% compared with 33.14% last month. 

It was followed by Sudan 26.59%, Germany 14.06% and Belgium 5.12%.

Coffee exports to Africa amounted to 156,591 bags, a market share of 31.217% compared to 158,999 bags the previous month.

Africa countries included Sudan, Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, Algeria, and Egypt. Europe remains the main destination for Uganda’s coffees with a 53% imports share.

Global coffee export volumes

According to the report, world coffee exports amounted to 10.61 million bags in July 2020, compared with 11.92 million in July 2019.

Exports in the first 10 months of Coffee Year 2019/20 (Oct 2019 to July 2020) have decreased by 5.3% to 106.59 million bags compared to 112.58 million bags in the same period in 2018/19.

Coffee exports are projected to be 450,000 bags in Septmeber as the main harvest in Greater Masaka and South-Western regions has virtually ended.

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