Uganda’s coffee export volumes and earnings leapt in June, boosted by a plentiful harvest in most of the growing regions, the Agriculture Ministry said in a report on Monday.

Uganda is Africa’s largest coffee exporter, followed by Ethiopia, and primarily cultivates robusta variety. Earnings from the crop are a key source of foreign exchange.

Earnings from coffee were up 78% year on year in June at $290 million while export volumes jumped 52% to 1.01 million 60 kg bags, the ministry’s report said.

“Coffee exports were higher than the previous year on account of a good crop harvest in most coffee-growing regions,” the report said, adding that the harvest was particularly bountiful in central and western regions.

Earnings were boosted by high global coffee prices, the report said, citing the effects of prolonged droughts in major producers Brazil and Vietnam.

Uganda’s earnings from the crop have been rising sharply in recent months. In the 12 months to June, Uganda’s coffee earnings reached $2.2 billion, nearly double the previous year’s figure, the ministry said.
Source: Reuters