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Uganda and Ethiopia dominate Africa’s coffee exports in May 2025

On a global scale, exports of all forms of coffee increased by four point nine percent to 12.65 million bags in May 2025, up from 12.05 million bags in May 2024

KAMPALA, July 8, 2025 –– Exports of all forms of coffee from Africa increased by 33.3 percent in May 2025 to 2.33 million bags, up from 1.75 million bags in May 2024, according to the latest report from the International Coffee Organisation [ICO].

The Coffee Market Report – June 2025 highlights Uganda and Ethiopia as the two main drivers behind the region’s growth in May, with their exports rising by 43.3 percent and 42.0 percent to    0.79 million bags and 0.98 million bags, respectively.

“For both countries, a good harvest, and hence supply, combined with high international coffee prices and front-loading appears to explain this growth. Many in the market estimate coffee year 2024/25 to be an on-year for Ethiopia, with a net increase in output of 0.5 million bags. In Uganda, a strong crop from the main harvest in the Masaka and south-western regions was cited as the main factor,” the report states.

On a global scale, exports of all forms of coffee increased by four point nine percent to 12.65 million bags in May 2025, up from 12.05 million bags in May 2024. “However, year-to-date exports fell to 91.29 million bags, compared with 93.44 million bags over the same period a year earlier,” the report notes.

Three out of four major coffee-exporting regions recorded growth, with only South America experiencing a decline. May 2025 marked the seventh consecutive month of contraction for the region, reducing its share of global exports to thirty-two point three per cent, compared with forty-five point six per cent in May 2024.

Exports from Asia & Oceania increased by 48.9 percent to 4.11 million bags in May 2025, up from 2.76 million bags in the same month last year. The surge was driven primarily by Vietnam, whose exports soared by 87.3 percent to 2.54 million bags, up from 1.36 million bags. This rate of growth reflects a base effect, as May 2024 shipments were the lowest for that month since 2009, when exports totalled 1.34 million bags.

Indonesia also contributed notably to the region’s double-digit growth, with exports up by 23.3 percent to 0.76 million bags. ‘‘This marks the seventh increase in the first eight months of coffee year 2024/25 for Indonesia, with year-to-date exports rising by 53.0 percent to 6.06 million bags. A better-than-expected harvest has boosted exportable supply, fuelling strong export performance.’’

In contrast, South America’s exports declined by 25.7 percent to 4.08 million bags in May 2025, down from 5.5 million bags a year earlier. “This marks the seventh consecutive month of negative growth for the region, following a sixteen-month streak of expansion. The decline is largely attributed to Brazil, whose exports fell by 31.8 percent to 2.98 million bags, compared with 4.37 million bags in May 2024,” the ICO report states.

The magnitude of the decline is attributed to a base effect. In coffee year 2023/24, Brazil exported 50.1 million bags, the highest volume on record, which was 13.01 million more than in 2022/23, a rise of 35.1 percent. Much of this surge was in response to supply shortfalls from Vietnam, which saw exports fall by eleven point seven per cent, or a net loss of 3.31 million bags in 2023/24. With the supply gap now closed, the pressure on Brazil’s export volumes has eased.

Meanwhile, exports from Mexico & Central America increased by 3.8 percent to 2.13 million bags in May 2025, up from 2.05 million bags in May 2024. “This marks the seventh month of growth in the first eight months of coffee year 2024/25 for the region, with year-to-date exports up by 8.4 percent to 9.91 million bags,” the report adds.

The latest upturn was driven by Nicaragua, which shipped 0.4 million bags in May 2025, compared with 0.25 million in May 2024, an increase 60.8 percent. “This was the third-largest absolute volume exported on record, and the second-highest ever recorded for the month of May,” the report notes.

https://thecooperator.news/ugandas-coffee-exports-surge-in-may-2025-new-report/

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