Uganda recorded a sharp decline in coffee export earnings in May after weaker global prices and lower export volumes reduced revenue from the country’s most valuable agricultural commodity. According to a report released by Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture on Friday, coffee exports generated US$151.7 million in May, down nearly 38 percent from the US$244 million earned during the same month last year. Export volumes also declined significantly, with Uganda shipping 617,491 60-kilogram bags of coffee compared with 793,445 bags in May 2025, a drop of more than 22 percent. The ministry did not provide a specific reason for the decrease in export volumes.
Officials said the decline in earnings was also driven by falling international coffee prices after months of unusually high rates. Global prices weakened as forecasts of a larger harvest in Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, eased concerns over tight global supplies that had previously pushed prices to multi-year highs. Coffee remains Uganda’s leading agricultural export and its largest source of foreign exchange, providing income for millions of smallholder farmers across the country. Uganda is Africa’s biggest coffee exporter, producing mainly robusta coffee, while arabica production has also expanded steadily in recent years through government-supported farming programs.
The government continues to promote local coffee roasting and processing to increase value addition, reduce dependence on raw bean exports and improve export earnings. Officials believe expanding domestic processing will strengthen Uganda’s competitiveness in international markets while creating more jobs across the coffee value chain. Market analysts say the outlook for coffee prices will largely depend on weather conditions in major producing countries such as Brazil and Vietnam, as well as global demand, exchange rate movements and shipping costs. Despite the weaker performance in May, coffee remains a cornerstone of Uganda’s economy, though the latest figures highlight the sector’s continued exposure to volatility in global commodity markets.
