Uganda’s coffee exports in July surged 21.4% compared to the same month last year, boosted by a bountiful harvest in most growing areas, a report by the agriculture ministry showed on Tuesday.

The East African country 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.

Shipments of the beans last month amounted to 997,105 60-kilogram bags, compared to 821,593 bags exported in the same period a year ago, according to the report.

“Coffee export volume was higher than the previous year on account of a good crop harvest in most coffee growing regions,” the report said, adding the harvest was notably good in central and southwestern regions.

In terms of value, July shipments earned $250.6 million, 19.1% higher than earnings in the same period a year ago, the report said.

Uganda’s coffee earnings have been increasing in recent months on the back of high global prices and expanding domestic production of the crop. In the twelve months to July, the country took in $2.3 billion from coffee exports, according to the ministry.
Source: Reuters