Uganda’s December 2022 coffee exports drop 22 percent

KAMPALA-Compared to the same month last year, Uganda’s coffee exports in December 2022 declined by 22 percent to 418,829 bags, earning the country US$ 59.54 million, says Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA].

UCDA in its latest monthly report attributes the decline in coffee exports to lower yields resulting from the drought that hit the country last year. “This [drought] led to a shorter main harvest season in central and eastern regions and also reduced harvests from Greater Masaka and South-western regions.”

Further, the UCDA report shows Uganda’s coffee exports for 12 months [January – December 2022] amounted to 5.63mln bags worth US$ 859.94mln compared to 6.77mln bags worth US$ 718.71mln in the previous year (January-December 2021).

Outlook

UCDA projects coffee exports to be 400,000 bags in January 2023 as the main harvesting season in central and eastern regions started in November. UCDA says the harvesting season is likely to begin tailing off in February due to a short main harvest.

“Exporters are likely to draw down on their stocks to fulfill contractual obligations with buyers abroad,” UCDA says.

Meanwhile, world coffee production for 2022/23 is forecast to rebound 6.6mln bags from the previous year to 172.8mln due primarily to Brazil’s Arabica crop entering the on-year of the biennial production cycle. Global consumption is expected to rise by 800,000 bags to 167.9mln, with the largest gains in the European Union, the United States, and Brazil.

https://thecooperator.news/africas-coffee-exports-were-6-8-percent-up-in-november-2022/

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