Uganda’s coffee exports rise 5 percent in December 2019

By George Mangula

Uganda’s coffee exports in December 2019 totalled 330,248 60-kg bags, up 5.0 percent from 314,439 bags exported in the same month last year, the state-owned Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) says.

The coffee exports in December 2019 earned the country the much needed foreign exchange of US$ 31.87 million.

But the level of shipments was sharply below UCDA’s projection of 420,000 bags.

The quantity of coffee exported by type in December 2018 and 2019, had Robusta register a percentage increase both in quantity and value (15.24 percent and of 7.50 percent) respectively. On the other hand Arabica exports registered a percentage decrease in both quantity and in value (30.04 percent and 24.9 percent) respectively.

According UCDA, the lower Arabica coffee exports compared to the previous year were on account of lower demand from the foreign buyers who had adequate stocks resulting in depressed global prices. Lower exports were also a result of higher than normal rains which delayed drying and transportation of the coffee to the primary processing and grading plants.

UCDA reports that coffee exports for the calendar year 2019 (January to December 2019) totalled to 4,526,143 bags worth US$439 million compared to 4,304,455 bags worth US$ 462 million the previous year.

Meanwhile, coffee exports for the first six months of financial year 2019/20 amounted to 2,462,413 60-kilo bags worth US$237.21 million compared to 2,110,295 60-kilo bags worth US$ 214.87 million the previous year. “These represent 16.69% and 10.4% increase in both quantity and value respectively,” UCDA says.

Planting seedlings

According to UCDA, a total of 127,083,451, coffee seedlings were allocated for second season which ran from September to November 2019. The Central had 30,371,400, Eastern had 19,554,900, Elgon had 8,970,000, Northern had 1,533,100, Rwenzori had 24,431,610, South Western had 20,170,637 and Western 22, 0551,804 seedlings

Coffee exports are projected to be 450,000 bags as the main harvest season in Central and Busoga regions is still on. “The rising global prices are likely to induce exporters to export more. This is also compounded by the dry weather that will quicken the drying process,” says UCDA.