Uganda’s export earnings up by 36.8%, says new report

KAMPALA - Uganda’s export earnings increased by 36.8% to $1,198.86 million (about shillings 4.28 trillion) in May 2025 from $876.40 million (about shillings 3.1 trillion) in the same month of the previous year.

This growth in exports was mainly driven by increased earnings from coffee, cocoa, and mineral products, according to the finance ministry performance of the economy report for June 2025.

The amount of earnings from coffee exports grew by 91.6% as both the volume and prices were better in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Uganda exported 793,445 60-kilo bags of coffee in May 2025, earning a total of $243.95 million (about shillings 871 billion).

Similarly, favourable global prices of cocoa due to lower production in West Africa, coupled with Uganda’s improved production of the commodity, resulted in the country more than tripling the volume of cocoa beans exported from 3,010 tons in May 2024 to 9,867 tonnes in May 2025.

Consequently, the country earned a total of $108.58 million from cocoa exports in May 2025 compared to $22.14 million in May 2024.

Other notable export commodities that registered growth included mineral products, tea, fish, beans, fruits and vegetables, among others.

Growth in commodity exports was also registered between May 2025 and the month before. The value of exports increased by 6.9% from $1,120.98 million in April 2025 to $1,198.86 million in May 2025.

This was still driven by increments in exports of coffee, cocoa, mineral products, tea, fish, beans, fruits and vegetables.

Import bill

The import bill, on the other hand, increased by 30.1% from $1,007.08 million in May 2024 to $1,309.71 million in May 2025.

A month-on-month comparison between April 2025 and May 2025 showed similar movements, with the trade balance narrowing by 3.3% following a higher growth of 6.9% in exports compared to the 6.0% growth for imports.