Uganda boosts Africa’s coffee exports in August 2025
The ICO Coffee Market Report for September 2025 highlights Uganda as the primary driver of the continent’s export growth, with its shipments increasing by 17.7 percent to 0.99mln bags in August 2025
KAMPALA, October 6, 2025 — Exports of all forms of coffee from Africa rose by 4.1 percent in August 2025, reaching 1.9 million bags, up from 1.83mln bags in August 2024, according to the latest International Coffee Organisation [ICO] report.
The ICO Coffee Market Report for September 2025 highlights Uganda as the primary driver of the continent’s export growth, with its shipments increasing by 17.7 percent to 0.99mln bags in August 2025.
“A good harvest, associated with high international coffee prices and front-loading, appears to explain this growth,” the report released today notes.
Uganda’s coffee harvest for the 2024/25 coffee year is estimated at 7.05 million bags, an increase of 3.7 percent from 6.78 million bags in 2023/24, the report adds.
Despite Uganda’s strong performance, overall growth in Africa was dampened by a decline in exports from several key origins [countries]. Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, and Tanzania collectively recorded a 12.7 percent drop in exports, resulting in a net loss of 0.11 million bags.
Global exports fall despite year-to-date growth
Globally, coffee exports of all forms declined by 3.7 percent to 11.35mln bags in August 2025, down from 11.79mln bags in August 2024. This marks the sixth consecutive month of negative growth in the current coffee year.
However, year-to-date exports [October 2024–August 2025] edged slightly higher at 127.92mln bags, compared to 127.68mln bags in the same period the previous year.
South America was the main contributor to the global downturn.
“South America was the driver of the latest downturn, whose exports decreased by 14.3 percent to 4.94 million bags, down from 5.76 million bags in August 2024,” the ICO report states.
As a result, South America’s share of global exports fell to 43.5 percent in August 2025, compared to 48.8 percent in the same month of the previous year.
Green bean exports and longer-term trends
Global green bean exports also declined, falling by 2.0 percent to 9.99mln bags in August 2025, compared to 10.19mln bags a year earlier. This marks the seventh month of negative growth in the current coffee year. Year-to-date green bean exports were down 0.7 percent, at 111.48mln bags, compared to 112.22mln bags between October 2023 and August 2024.
The ICO report points out that coffee year 2023/24 was a record year for green bean exports, with 125.44mln bags shipped, an all-time high, reflecting a 12.4 percent increase and a net gain of 13.87 million bags.
“To put these numbers in perspective, the average annual net gain during coffee years 2011/12 to 2018/19 was 3.32 million bags, while the largest single-year gain was 9.7 million bags,” the report explains.
Given the exceptional growth in the previous year, the current slowdown is not unexpected. The ICO attributes the latest decline primarily to lower exports of Brazilian Naturals.
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