Uganda Coffee Exports Surge

According to a Market Screener report on October 19, a report from the national industry regulator showed that Uganda's coffee exports last month rose 15.6% year-on-year, driven mainly by the arrival of Uganda's coffee harvest season and rising global prices.

According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said in a report that in September this year, the East African country exported a total of 585,576 bags of 60 kg coffee, compared with 506,470 bags in the same period last year.

Ugandan coffee becomes a hot bean in Italy

According to a Bloomberg report on October 19, due to strong demand for Ugandan coffee among coffee lovers in Italy, which contributed to Uganda's coffee bean exports, Uganda's coffee bean exports reached their highest level in at least 30 years.

In August this year, Uganda overtook Vietnam to become Italy's second-largest coffee supplier, after Brazil. As of September this year, Uganda's total shipments jumped 21% to 6.5 million bags (60 kg/bag), Uganda's highest level in thirty years, with about one-third going to Italy.

Italy and Germany produced more than 60% of the EU's roasted coffee beans last year, and both countries have already diversified their coffee bean sources. As exports from Brazil and Vietnam were disrupted and shipping was interrupted, European buyers increasingly favored coffee from countries such as Uganda and India.

As for Uganda, it is also committed to improving coffee yield and quality. Uganda is now Africa's second-largest coffee-producing country after Ethiopia. The government of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has in recent years overseen the planting of millions of new coffee trees, part of a plan to increase annual production to 20 million bags by 2030.

In addition, Uganda brought Robusta beans to the world; most of the world's soluble coffee is made from Robusta, and Robusta from Uganda is said to be the best.

Uganda Withdraws from the International Coffee Treaty

According to a September 30 report by Uganda's Daily Monitor, Uganda has withdrawn from the International Coffee Treaty, which took effect in February 2022, a move that has raised concerns among stakeholders.

Emmanuel Lyamuleme Niyibigira, Managing Director of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), conveyed this decision to the International Coffee Organization (ICO) on September 10. UCDA did not give a reason for the withdrawal, and its Managing Director did not offer much explanation either.

Sources inside the Uganda Coffee Development Authority said the move was not approved by the board or the government, and that this decision could affect the livelihoods of 8 million coffee farmers in Uganda.

Under Section 40(3) of the National Coffee Act, the UCDA is required to describe, grade and certify coffee in accordance with international standards issued by the ICO and other international standards bodies.

Usher Wilson Uwere, the president of the country's national trade union organization, said the move was not only objectionable but would also cost Ugandan coffee its market.