Africa’s coffee exports fall 13.5 percent in June as Uganda records a major decline

KAMPALA, September 1, 2026 — Coffee exports from Africa fell by 13.5 percent in June 2026, with a sharp decline in shipments from Uganda emerging as one of the major contributors to the regional downturn, according to the latest report released by the International Coffee Organisation [ICO].

The report states exports of all forms of coffee from the continent dropped to 1.79 million bags in June, compared with 2.07mln bags during the same month in 2025. The decline marked the fourth consecutive month of negative year-on-year growth for Africa.

Cumulative exports for the first nine months of coffee year 2025/26 also declined to 12.81mln bags, from 13.9mln bags recorded during the same period a year earlier.

“The latest contraction was largely driven by Uganda, where coffee exports fell by an estimated 30.6 percent to 0.7mln bags in June 2026, compared with 1.01mln bags in June 2025,” says the report.

Uganda entered the current coffee year after recording an exceptional performance in coffee year 2024/25, when exports reached 8.26mln bags. This was significantly higher than the average annual export volume of 6.22mln bags recorded over the preceding four coffee years and above the previous record of 6.5mln bags registered in coffee year 2020/21.

The strong performance in 2024/25 was supported by increased production and the release of stocks in response to high international coffee prices.

“The latest year-on-year decline in Uganda’s exports may therefore reflect a return to more normal export levels following an exceptionally high benchmark, rather than signalling a broader downturn in the sector,” says the report.

Global picture

Globally, exports of all forms of coffee rose marginally by 0.3 percent to 11.88mln bags in June 2026, compared with 11.84mln bags in June 2025.

Despite the slight monthly increase, cumulative exports for the first nine months of coffee year 2025/26 stood at 106.16mln bags, down 0.4 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Exports declined across all producing regions except South America. As a result, South America’s share of total global coffee exports during the first nine months of the current coffee year increased to 40.9 percent.

Green beans dominant

Green beans remained the dominant form of coffee traded internationally, accounting for 86.8 percent of total exports during the first nine months of coffee year 2025/26. Soluble coffee accounted for 12.7 percent, while roasted coffee represented just 0.5 percent.

Robusta exports fall

The report shows Robusta green bean exports fell by 2.1 percent to 3.97mln bags in June 2026, compared with 4.05mln bags in June 2025. “It was only the second month of negative growth for Robusta exports during the first nine months of coffee year 2025/26,” states the report.

However, cumulative Robusta exports remained higher at 36.51mln bags, compared with 33.78mln bags during the same period a year earlier.

The June decline for Robusta exports was driven mainly by Indonesia and Uganda, whose combined Robusta exports fell by 36.1 percent to 0.98mln bags, from 1.53mln bags in June 2025.

Both countries had recorded their strongest annual export performances during coffee year 2024/25. Indonesia shipped 6.44mln bags, while Uganda exported 7.32mln bags, compared with average annual exports of 3.84mln and 5.35mln bags, respectively, between coffee years 2020/21 and 2023/24.

The decline in June may therefore represent a return to normal export levels following the exceptionally high volumes recorded a year earlier.

However, Indonesia’s exports in June differed from their normal seasonal pattern, under which shipments would ordinarily be expected to increase compared with the preceding two months.

Part of the combined decline in exports from Indonesia and Uganda was offset by Brazil, whose Robusta exports rose by 33.4 percent to 0.64mln bags in June 2026, compared with 0.48mln bags in June 2025.

The increase marked Brazil’s fifth consecutive month of positive growth in Robusta exports following a 13-month decline.

Brazil’s cumulative Robusta exports up to June 2026 reached 3.47mln bags, compared with 3.2mln bags during the same period a year earlier.

The sharp increase was largely attributed to differences in the timing of Brazil’s current and previous Robusta harvests. The 2026 harvest began in late March, while the 2025 harvest started in late May. Brazil’s Robusta harvest typically begins in April.

Exports normally follow a seasonal pattern, reaching a low point in January or February before increasing as supplies from the new harvest enter the market, and then declining from September.

During coffee year 2024/25, however, exports did not reach their lowest point until April 2025 because of the delayed harvest. In coffee year 2025/26, the trough occurred in January 2026.

The difference in the timing of the two harvest cycles contributed to strong year-on-year growth in Brazil’s Robusta exports in June 2026 and during the preceding three months.

Arabicas rise

Total Arabica exports increased by 2.5 percent to 6.51mln bags in June 2026, compared with 6.35mln bags in June 2025, states the report.

However, Arabicas’ share of cumulative green bean exports during the first nine months of coffee year 2025/26 declined to 60.4 percent, from 63.7 percent during the same period a year earlier.

Exports of soluble coffee fell by 1.3 percent to 1.35mln bags in June 2026, compared with 1.36mln bags in June 2025.

Viet Nam, Brazil and India were the leading exporters of soluble coffee during the month, shipping 0.29mln, 0.21mln and 0.13mln bags, respectively.

Exports of roasted coffee fell sharply by 32.3 percent to 0.05mln bags in June 2026, compared with 0.07mln bags in June 2025.

https://thecooperator.news/africas-coffee-exports-drop-24-1-percent-in-may-2026/

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