Uganda coffee export earnings up by sh140b

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Uganda’s export earnings from coffee rose by $40.13 million (19.1%) or about shillings 140 billion in July from a year earlier.

This is according to the August 2025 performance of the economy report by the finance ministry. 

The earnings increased from $210.48 million in July 2024 to $250.60 million in July 2025.

It was attributed to higher export volumes amidst declining global coffee prices. Uganda’s export volumes increased from 821,593 sixty-kilogram bags to 997,105 sixty-kilogram bags, on account of a good crop harvest in most coffee-growing regions, especially greater Masaka and Southwestern regions.

“This increase in quantity more than offset the decrease in coffee prices, which fell from $4.27/kg in July 2024 to $4.19/kg in July 2025 due to signs of increased supply from Vietnam and new harvest from Brazil,” the report says.

Month-on-month, coffee export earnings declined in July 2025 by 13.5%, from $289.60 million to $250.60 million, primarily due to the global decline of coffee prices and lower coffee export volumes.

Italy maintained its position as the largest market for Uganda’s coffee, accounting for 31.1% of the total coffee exports in July 2025.

Other significant markets included Sudan (12.5%), Germany (11.45), Algeria (6.2%) and Belgium (4.2%).

On a monthly basis, export earnings in July 2025 amounted to $1,248.12 million, a 7.8% increase from $1,157.51 million recorded in June 2025.

This growth was primarily driven by higher earnings from gold, sugar, oil re-exports, other pulses, crude oil and cement, among others.

Similarly, exports excluding coffee and gold increased by 5.8% from $390.54 million to $413.33 million, signalling a marginal increase in other exports.

“Important to note, however, is that coffee and gold account for over 66 percent of our exports, underscoring the need for greater diversification in our commodity exports,” report says.