Uganda Bags USD 60 Million from Coffee Exports in Single Month, the Highest Ever in 30 Years

This comprised 565,449 bags of Robusta valued at USD 50.25 million and 52,939 bags of Arabica valued at USD 8.31 million.

This was an increase of 47.04% and 46.63 % in quantity and value respectively compared to the same month last year.

By comparing quantity of coffee exported by type in the same month of last Coffee Year (June 2020), the report obtained by Business Focus, says  Robusta increased by 63.89% and 72.56% in quantity and value respectively, while Arabica exports decreased in both quantity and value by 29.93% and 23.16% respectively.

“Increasing Robusta exports during the month compared to the previous year were due to newly planted coffee which started yielding supported by favourable weather. This was also compounded by a positive trend in global coffee prices in the last two weeks of the month which prompted exporters to release their stocks on top of increased procurement,” the report reads in part.

It adds that the decrease in value of Arabica coffee was due to low volumes exported.

“Arabica monthly exports continued to reduce compared to the previous year attributed to the off-year biennial cycle characteristic of Arabica production,” UCDA report reveals.

It further says that Coffee exports for the 12 months (Financial year 2020/21) amounted to 6,078,638 60-kilo bags worth US$ 559.26 million compared to 5,105,881-kilo bags valued at US$ 496.28 million the previous year (Financial Year 2019/20).

This represents 19.05% and 12.69% increase in both quantity and value respectively. The total quantity of exports in 12 months was the highest in 30 years.

Exports by Type and Grade

According to the report, the average export price was US$ 1.58 per kilo, 1 cent lower than US$ 1.59 per kilo realized in May 2021. Robusta exports accounted for 91.44% of total exports higher than 86.91% in May 2021.

The average Robusta price was US$ 1.48 per kilo, 2 cents higher than the previous month. Organic Screen 18 and Organic Screen 15 fetched the highest price of US$ 2.23 per kilo, a premium of 65 and 70 cents over conventional Screen 18 and Screen 15 respectively.