Uganda’s coffee earnings up 19%

Nov 08, 2008

UGANDA'S coffee earnings rose by 19% to $21m (about sh39.4b) in October, due to healthy robusta sales, from $17.65m (about sh33b)in the same month last year, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said on Thursday.

UGANDA'S coffee earnings rose by 19% to $21m (about sh39.4b) in October, due to healthy robusta sales, from $17.65m (about sh33b)in the same month last year, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said on Thursday.

“Total exports stood at 179,564 60-kg bags worth $21m, an improvement compared to what was recorded in a similar month last year of 172,576 bags valued at $17.65m,” the body said.Robusta volumes increased to 151,485 bags from 132,179 bags in October last year.

The bean’s earnings also rose to $17.18m from $12.74m in the previous period. Uganda has become a key player in the production of robust coffee after a political crisis in former leading African producer Ivory Coast slashed production.

Uganda’s total 2007/08 coffee earnings, for the year to September, shot up 52% to $388.4m up from $256m in the previous period, the UCDA had said last month.

This was attributed to high global prices and increased robusta coffees volumes .
Uganda is Africa’s second biggest coffee grower after Ethiopia, which largely produces arabica.

Reuters

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