Uganda’s coffee industry continues to stand tall as one of the country’s leading foreign exchange earners, reinforcing its central role in the nation’s economic transformation. In September 2025, Uganda exported 844,949 sixty-kilogram bags valued at US$ 218.6 million (UGX 766.7 billion), a 56.1% increase in volume and 48.2% rise in value compared to the same month last year.
This strong performance reflects both expanding production across key regions and the growing impact of Uganda’s new Transformation Agenda under the ATMS pillars, with Agribusiness (A) driving forward value addition, productivity, and export diversification. Coffee, long the backbone of Uganda’s rural economy, is now a focal point for industrial processing, branding, and product innovation aimed at capturing higher global market value.
Over the 2024/2025 coffee year, Uganda exported 8.2 million bags worth US$ 2.3 billion (UGX 8.1 trillion), up from 6.4 million bags valued at US$ 1.4 billion the previous year. This impressive growth underscores coffee’s enduring strength as both a livelihood source and a key engine of the Tenfold Growth Strategy, powering Uganda’s journey towards a modern, competitive, and export-driven economy.
Trend of Total Quantity and Value of Coffee Exports, October2024- September 2025
Table1: Comparison of Coffee Exports of September 2024 and September2025
Price Analysis: Market Signals and Shifting Dynamics
Uganda’s coffee prices in September 2025 mirrored broader shifts in global commodity markets, with both Robusta and Arabica maintaining steady upward momentum despite mild fluctuations. The average export price of US$ 4.31 per kilogram reflected improved buyer confidence amid tightening global supplies, as weather-related disruptions and trade policy uncertainties, particularly the proposed U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports, reduced stock availability and drove up demand for East African coffee.
Robusta, which accounted for 91% of total exports, continued to anchor Uganda’s coffee economy, averaging US$ 4.10 per kilogram, while premium grades like Screen 17 attracted up to US$ 4.62, highlighting the market’s appreciation for quality differentiation. The gradual rise in sustainable and washed Robusta exports, now at 0.33% – signals Uganda’s cautious but deliberate shift towards traceable and certified value chains.
Meanwhile, Arabica sustained its premium status, averaging US$ 6.50 per kilogram, buoyed by strong demand for specialty varieties such as Rwenzori C/PB (US$ 9.83/kg) and Bugisu AB (US$ 7.93/kg). The price resilience of Arabica despite reduced shares of sustainable exports (7%) reflects enduring consumer loyalty to Uganda’s high-altitude beans.
Overall, the September 2025 performance demonstrates a maturing market structure where quality, certification, and consistency are becoming as valuable as quantity. Uganda’s push for value addition and specialty branding under the Agribusiness pillar of the Tenfold Growth Strategy is therefore not just timely, it’s strategically aligned with global price trends favoring origin excellence over bulk exports.
Export Dynamics: Consolidation, Market Reach, and Competitive Edge
Uganda’s coffee export landscape in September 2025 reflected a steady consolidation of market power among top exporters, signaling a maturing and increasingly competitive value chain. The top 10 companies accounted for 69% of total exports, up from 64% in August, an indicator of efficiency gains and improved export organization. Ugacof (U) Ltd led with a 10.6% market share, followed closely by Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd (10.4%) and Olam Uganda Ltd (9.35%), reaffirming the dominance of established multinational-linked firms with deep supply networks and quality assurance systems.
On the demand side, Europe remained the anchor market, absorbing 61% of Uganda’s coffee exports, with Italy (25.6%) and Germany (13%) maintaining their traditional leadership. Notably, North African and intra-African trade accounted for 22% of exports, a positive trend aligned with Uganda’s African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ambitions to diversify destinations and reduce dependency on European markets.
Among global buyers, Sucafina (11.43%), Olam International (10.32%), and Touton SA (7.88%) led the pack, collectively purchasing over a quarter of Uganda’s total coffee exports. This concentration among major global traders underscores Uganda’s strategic importance as a reliable supplier of high-quality Robusta and specialty Arabica.
Overall, the September export performance highlights rising efficiency, exporter specialization, and global market trust;
Top ten export destinations by percentage market share
Percentage share of Uganda’s coffee imported by continent
Top ten buyers by percentage market share
Global and Local Coffee Landscape: Uganda’s Strategic Rise in a Tight Market
The global coffee industry is entering a defining moment. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (June 2025), world coffee production for 2025/26 is projected at a record 178.7 million bags, driven by recovery in Vietnam and Indonesia and record output from Ethiopia. Yet, despite these gains, global consumption (169.4 million bags) continues to narrow the supply margin, keeping ending inventories tight at just 22.8 million bags. This constrained balance underscores a sustained opportunity for quality-origin producers like Uganda, whose export trajectory is now aligned with rising global demand for sustainably sourced and traceable coffee.
At home, Uganda’s farm-gate prices mirrored this international optimism, with Robusta Kiboko averaging UGX 6,500 per kilogram and Arabica parchment UGX 14,500 per kilogram, both higher than in the previous month. The steady climb in producer prices is encouraging smallholders and cooperatives to invest more in improved farming practices, a core goal of the Agribusiness (A) component under Uganda’s ATMS Transformation Strategy, which champions value addition and farmer prosperity.
September 2025 also marked a month of tangible progress in capacity-building. Over 4,300 farmers participated in 166 specialized training sessions, focusing on climate-smart farming, pest management, post-harvest handling, and cooperative formation. The verification of 190 nurseries, inspection of 241 value chain actors, and registration of 149 operators demonstrated active regulatory enforcement under the Coffee Act 2025 (amended), strengthening quality assurance and market confidence.
Internationally, Uganda’s participation at the Specialty Coffee Expo Japan 2025 showcased its premium Arabica and fine Robusta varieties, attracting strong business interest from Asian buyers. This growing market diversification, beyond Europe and Africa signifies Uganda’s ascent as a global origin of distinction, not just a bulk exporter.
With exports projected to reach 850,000 bags in October 2025, Uganda’s coffee sector remains firmly on track to deliver on the Tenfold Growth Vision, transforming from a commodity-driven base to a value-added, agribusiness-powered export engine.
