KAMPALA — The price of coffee on the world market fell this week, with both Robusta and Arabica recording losses.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), in its coffee market report for September 25, 2026, said the price of Robusta for delivery in November fell by US$27 to US$3,290 (about Shs12.9 million) per tonne.
The price for delivery in January 2027 fell by US$18 to US$3,272 per tonne, while the March 2027 price dropped by US$14 to US$3,260.
Why coffee prices fell
According to MAAIF, one reason for the fall in Robusta prices is that coffee stocks in the international market have increased.
Stocks held in warehouses monitored by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) have reached their highest level in about 10 months.
In simple terms, there is currently more Robusta coffee available in the international market, putting pressure on prices.
Brazil, one of the world’s major coffee producers, is also expected to produce about 6.6 percent less Robusta coffee this year.
However, the expected fall in Brazilian production has not been enough to push prices higher because of the increased stocks.
Arabica coffee has also become cheaper.
The December 2026 Arabica price fell by 0.55 US cents to 275.35 US cents per pound, while the March 2027 contract fell by 0.45 cents to 267.70 US cents.
MAAIF said Arabica prices were affected by a higher estimate for Brazil’s 2026 coffee harvest.
Brazil’s crop forecasting agency, Conab, increased its estimate to 67.6 million bags.
The Brazilian currency has also weakened against the US dollar, making it more attractive for Brazilian exporters to sell their coffee on the world market.
What Ugandan farmers are getting
Despite the fall in international prices, Ugandan farmers are still receiving relatively high prices for coffee, depending on the type and quality.
According to MAAIF, farmers were getting between Shs15,000 and Shs16,000 per kilogram for Arabica parchment; Shs14,500 and Shs15,500 for clean Drugar; Shs11,500 and Shs12,500 for FAQ Robusta; and Shs5,000 and Shs5,500 for Kiboko.
Kiboko is coffee cherries that have been dried whole, while FAQ refers to a commonly traded grade of processed Robusta coffee.
Arabica still fetches more
The ministry’s indicative export prices also show that higher-quality Arabica continues to fetch more money than Robusta.
Bugisu AA was valued at Shs23,388 per kilogram, while Bugisu A and Bugisu PB were each at Shs23,301.
Bugisu B stood at Shs23,128 per kilogram.
Wugar was quoted at Shs23,215, while Drugar was at Shs21,571.
These prices were calculated using an exchange rate of Shs3,924 to the US dollar.
Some coffee sold at higher prices
MAAIF also recorded several coffee sales on September 24 at prices higher than the general market levels.
One sale of 3,587 bags, with each bag weighing 60 kilograms, fetched 184.21 US cents per pound.
Another 7,715 bags were sold at 182.69 US cents per pound, while 4,457 bags fetched 180.45 US cents per pound.
The figures show that the price a farmer or trader receives can vary depending on the type, quality and grade of coffee.
MAAIF said people involved in the coffee business should continue watching international prices because factors such as the amount of coffee available, production in major coffee-producing countries and changes in currency values can affect what coffee is worth.
For farmers, this means that changes in the world coffee market can eventually affect the price offered for their coffee locally.