Uganda exported 4.8 per cent less coffee in November than a year ago, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority said Wednesday, as outbound shipments of robusta beans fell due to rains that delayed the drying of newly harvested coffee.
Uganda exported 425,526 60-kilogram bags of coffee during the month, compared to 447,162 bags in November 2022. However, export earnings increased by 10.1 per cent from $64.2mn to $70.9mn. The average price per kilo was $2.77, slightly lower than the previous month’s $2.80 but higher than the $2.54 from a year ago.
Robusta exports fell 7.3 per cent to 338,329 bags on year, while arabica shipments increased by 5.9 per cent to 87,179 bags. Robusta receipts jumped 16.9 per cent to 53.1 million, while arabica revenues declined by 6.3 per cent.
In the twelve months to November, coffee exports totalled 6.1 million bags worth $958.6mn, compared with 5.8 million bags worth $883.3mn in the year to November 2022.
UCDA expects 500,000 bags of coffee to be exported this month.
Uganda is Africa’s second largest coffee producer after Ethiopia. However, it exports more coffee than Ethiopia, which consumes more of its crop domestically.
