Coffee is a key foreign exchange earner for Uganda
KAMPALA, April 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Despite a decrease in volume of Ugandan coffee exported onto the international market, the country earned more dollars due to the improved global prices.
According to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), a total of 478,023 60-kilo bags of coffee valued at $80.99m were exported in March 2022 at an average weighted price of $2.82/kilo, 14 cents higher than the $2.68/kilo that it earned in February 2022.
In its monthly report for March, UCDA revealed that the exports comprised 360,229 bags of Robusta valued at $48.94m and 117,798 bags of Arabica valued at $32.05m.
“This was a decrease of 16.40% in quantity but an increase of 51.44% in value compared to the same month last year,” reads part of the report.
It further revealed that by comparing quantity of coffee exported by type in the same month of the last Coffee Year [March 2021], Robusta decreased by 26.96% in quantity but increased by 19.51% in value, while Arabica exports increased by 49.83% and 155.85% in quantity and value respectively.
“The decrease in Robusta exports was mainly attributed to lower yields this year that was characterized by drought in some regions. This led to a shorter main harvest season in Central and Eastern regions as well as a short fly crop in Greater Masaka and South-Western regions,” further reads the report, adding that the increase in Arabica coffee exports was due to an on-year cycle characteristic of Arabica coffee production.
UCDA attributed the upward shift in global prices to a shortage of shipping containers in Asia and weather-related concerns in Brazil.
Coffee exports for the 12 months (April 2021-March 2022) amounted to 6,515,642 60-kilo bags worth $790.33m compared to 5,646,897 60-kilo bags valued at $522.91m the previous year (April 2020- March 2021). — NNN-AGENCIES