KAMPALA, Uganda – Coffee exports from Uganda in March 2024 amounted to 329,686 60-kilo bags, worth US$64.74 million, informs Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) in its latest Monthly Coffee Market Analysis Report. This comprised of 244,975 bags of Robusta valued at US$46.01 million and 84,711 bags of Arabica valued at US$18.72 million.
This was a decrease of 32.40% and 9.45% in quantity and value respectively compared to the same month last year.
By comparing quantity of coffee exported by type in the same month of last Year (March 2023) Robusta decreased by 33.03% and 0.24% in quantity and value respectively, and Arabica exports decreased by 30.53% and 26.19% in quantity and value respectively.
The monthly coffee exports volume was lower than the previous year due a smaller harvest in Elgon region coupled with delays in the onset of the harvest season and shortage of shipping containers.
Coffee exports for the twelve months (April 2023-March 2024) totalled 5.90 million bags worth US$993.63 million compared to 5.76 million bags worth US$849.86 million in the previous year (April 2022-March 2023). This represents an increase of 2.42% and 16.91% in quantity and value respectively.
Italy maintained the highest market share with 38.08% compared to 37.74% last month. It was followed by India 12.29% (11.11%), Germany 10.50% (9.08%), Belgium 2.92% (4.31%) and Sudan 4.99% (9.50%).
The top 10 buyers held a market share of 59.16% higher than 57% in the previous month. Olam International led with a market share of 9.16% compared to 11.48% in February 2024. It was followed by Volcafe 7.53% (4.91%), Touton SA 7.37% (4.10%), Bernhard Rothfos 7.33% (6.77%), Louis Dreyfus 6.81% (8.34%), Sucafina 5.85% (6.25%).