Uganda Says Coffee Exports Down 14% Due To Drought

Posted by African Examiner African News, East/Central Africa, Latest Headlines Wednesday, October 19th, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Uganda’s state-run sector regulator on Wednesday said Uganda coffee exports declined in September due to the impact of drought affecting many growing areas across the country.

Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), in a report said the country shipped a total of 503,695 60-kg bags of coffee beans in September, down 14 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier.

According UCDA, “the decrease in exports was mainly attributed to lower yields this year that were characterised by drought in most regions,” adding that the dry conditions had resulted in a shorter harvest season in central and eastern Uganda.

Uganda is Africa’s largest exporter of coffee, followed by Ethiopia, and relies on earnings from the crop as a major source of foreign exchange.
September is the last month of the crop year, which starts the previous October.

In 2021-2022 (Oct- Sept) crop years, Uganda exported 5.9 million bags that fetched 876 million dollars, down from 6.5 million bags worth 630.01 million dollars.

Some years earnings are higher in spite of a decline in volumes, because of rises in international coffee prices.

Reuters