Africa’s coffee exports fall 22.1 percent in April as Ethiopia and Uganda shipments decline – ICO
According to the ICO, Ethiopia’s double-digit fall was partly linked to a statistical base effect after April 2025 recorded exceptionally high export volumes
KAMPALA, June 13, 2026 — Coffee exports from Africa fell sharply in April 2026, declining by 22.1 percent year-on-year to 1.54 million bags from 1.98mln bags in the same month last year, according to the latest International Coffee Organization [ICO] Coffee Market Report.
The report says the decline was driven largely by lower shipments from Ethiopia and Uganda, whose combined exports dropped by 19.9 percent to an estimated 1.2mln bags from 1.5mln bags in April 2025.
According to the ICO, Ethiopia’s double-digit fall was partly linked to a statistical base effect after April 2025 recorded exceptionally high export volumes.
The organisation said Ethiopia exported about 0.81 million bags in April 2025 — a level that was 212 percent above the country’s April average recorded between 2020 and 2024.
The previous surge was attributed to exporters bringing forward supply from the 2024/25 harvest season and releasing larger volumes of stocks to capitalise on elevated international coffee prices.
Globally, exports of green coffee beans fell by 1.9 percent in April 2026 to 10.51mln bags compared with 10.71mln bags in April 2025.
All major coffee categories registered export declines except Robustas.
However, the ICO said April’s performance should be viewed within the broader trend for the current coffee year, noting that over the first seven months of coffee year 2025/26 — covering October 2025 to April 2026 — only Colombian Milds and Brazilian Naturals posted cumulative export declines, while Other Milds and Robustas continued to record growth.
Total global coffee exports across all forms decreased by 0.9 percent to 12.05mln bags in April 2026 from 12.17mln bags a year earlier.
Regional performance was mixed, with exports from Africa and South America contracting, while shipments from Asia and Oceania, as well as the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico, recorded growth.
Green coffee beans remained the dominant export category, accounting for 86.32 percent of total exports during the first seven months of coffee year 2025/26.
Exports of soluble coffee increased by 6.5 percent to 1.48mln bags in April 2026 from 1.39mln bags in the same month last year.
Viet Nam, Brazil and India emerged as the largest exporters of soluble coffee during the month, shipping 0.49mln, 0.38mln and 0.25mln bags respectively.
Meanwhile, exports of roasted coffee declined by 7.3 percent to 0.06mln bags in April 2026, down from 0.07mln bags recorded a year earlier.
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