KAMPALA, June 5, 2025 — Global exports of all forms of coffee fell by 5.5 percent to 11.43 million bags in April 2025, down from 12.09 million bags in April 2024, according to the latest report from the International Coffee Organisation [ICO].
The report, titled Coffee Market Report May 2025, states that year-to-date exports dropped to 78.51 million bags, compared to 81.39 million bags during the same period in the previous year.
“Three out of four regions saw their exports expand, with only South America experiencing a downturn,” the report notes. April 2025 marked the sixth consecutive month of decline for South America, reducing the region’s share of global exports to 32.5 percent – its lowest monthly share since May 2018, when it stood at 27.1 percent.
Exports by region
According to the report, exports of all forms of coffee from Asia & Oceania rose by 8.3 percent to 4.14 million bags in April 2025, up from 3.82 million bags in April 2024. This growth was driven largely by Indonesia and Vietnam, with exports increasing by 39.1 percent to 0.56 million bags [from 0.4 million bags] and 9.5 percent to 2.84 million bags [from 2.59 million bags], respectively.
“The size of the growth rate reflects a base effect and the release of extra stocks in response to record-high prices, particularly for Robustas,” the report explains.
In Africa, exports increased by 30.2 percent in April 2025 to 1.8 million bags, compared with 1.38 million bags in April 2024. This marks the seventeenth consecutive month of positive growth for the region.
The report cites Ethiopia and Uganda as the main drivers of this growth, with exports rising by 42.1 percent and 36.0 percent to 0.81 million bags and 0.53 million bags, respectively.
“For both [countries], a good harvest – and thus increased supply – coupled with high international coffee prices and front-loading appears to explain this growth. In Uganda, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA] attributed the performance to a strong main harvest in the Masaka and south-western regions.”
Although UCDA is cited in the report, its functions were recently transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF] as part of the government’s rationalisation of agencies. MAAIF now releases Uganda’s monthly coffee reports, the latest being the Monthly Coffee Report April 2025.
Meanwhile, South America’s exports declined by 28.4 percent to 3.71 million bags in April 2025, down from 5.18 million bags in April 2024. This marks the sixth straight month of negative growth, following 16 consecutive months of expansion.
The report attributes the decline largely to Brazil, whose exports dropped by 34.1 percent to 2.81 million bags from 4.26 million bags in April 2024. The report attributes this to a base effect and possible ongoing logistical issues.
“During coffee year 2023/24, Brazil exported 50.1 million bags – the highest ever recorded – which was 13.01 million bags more than the previous year, representing a 35.1 percent increase. Much of this growth was in response to supply shortfalls from Vietnam, whose exports declined by 11.7 percent, equating to a net loss of 3.31 million bags in the same period. nWith Vietnam’s supply issues no longer pressing, the demand that drove Brazil’s record exports has diminished,” the report explains.
In March 2025, the report says, the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council [Cecafé] reported that the country had failed to ship 637,767 bags of coffee due to logistical bottlenecks. “Earlier in the year, ElloX Digital, a supplier management solution provider, stated that 67 percent of ships – 203 out of 302 vessels – experienced delays or changes at Brazil’s main ports in January 2025,” the report adds.
In Mexico & Central America, exports rose by 4.1 percent to 1.78 million bags in April 2025, up from 1.71 million bags in April 2024, says the report. It notes that this modest increase reflects a rebound following a weak coffee year 2023/24, when exports declined by 4.4 percent.
“The region has been on a downward trend since coffee year 2021/22, forming part of a broader cyclical pattern seen since coffee year 2010/11 – typically three to four years of growth followed by a similar period of decline,” says the report.
Excluding the COVID-19-disrupted coffee year 2019/20, 2023/24 would mark the fourth consecutive year of negative growth. If the historical pattern holds, coffee year 2024/25 could mark the beginning of a new three to four-year period of expansion.
Mexico and Nicaragua were the main contributors to the region’s growth, with exports rising by 10.7 percent and 8.5 percent to 0.34 million bags and 0.27 million bags, respectively, from 0.31 million and 0.25 million bags in April 2024.
https://thecooperator.news/ugandas-coffee-exports-surge-in-april-2025-setting-new-records/
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