Uganda’s coffee industry has reached historic heights, with exports surging to record-breaking levels that’ve transformed the East African nation into the continent’s leading coffee exporter.
The country exported 7.43 million 60-kilogram bags of coffee from June 2024 to May 2025, up dramatically from 6.08 million bags the previous year. This growth reflects Uganda’s expanding presence in the global coffee market, driven by increased global demand and favorable pricing conditions.
Revenue figures tell an even more impressive story. Uganda’s annual coffee export earnings doubled from $1.14 billion to $2.22 billion between 2023/24 and 2024/25. June 2025 set a new monthly record with $289.6 million in export revenue, while the month also saw the highest single-month export volume in the country’s history at 1.01 million bags.
Uganda’s coffee export revenues doubled to $2.22 billion, with June 2025 achieving record-breaking monthly earnings of $289.6 million.
Price increases have played an essential role in this success. Average coffee prices per kilogram jumped from about $3.62 in April 2024 to $5.15 in April 2025. Robusta coffee, which makes up 85% of Uganda’s production, saw prices climb from roughly $4.09 per kilogram to $5.42. Arabica prices nearly doubled from $6.37 to $11.42 per kilogram over the same period.
Uganda’s export success has reshuffled regional rankings. In May 2025, Uganda surpassed Ethiopia’s coffee export volumes with 47,606.7 tonnes versus Ethiopia’s 43,481.0 tonnes. This marks a significant shift in East African coffee trade dynamics, with Uganda now leading the continent in export performance despite Ethiopia remaining the largest producer.
Europe dominates Uganda’s export destinations, accounting for 67-69% of market share. Italy emerged as the single largest importer, receiving 39% of exports, while Germany also features prominently. African countries account for roughly 18% of exports, with Asian markets making up about 13%.
Government support and strategic development programs have fueled this growth. The Uganda Coffee Federation and Ministry of Agriculture have implemented policies supporting quality improvements and export capacity expansion. The success builds on investments in soil improvement and rehabilitation of aging trees that have strengthened the foundation of Uganda’s coffee sector. The Coffee Roadmap establishes ambitious targets of reaching 20 million bags by 2030 and achieving USD 1.5 billion in annual revenue. Improved farm-gate prices have provided stronger incentives for farmers, contributing to higher yields and expanded cultivation areas across the country.
