KAMPALA, December 19, 2025 — A year-on-year assessment shows that Uganda’s exports almost doubled by 94.4 percent, increasing from US$ 769.62 million in October 2024 to approximately US$ 1.5 billion [approximately Shs 5.3 trillion]in October 2025, according to the latest report released by the Finance ministry.
The ministry’s Performance of the Economy Monthly Report for November 2025 attributes the strong growth mainly to higher export earnings from coffee, gold, crude oil [from simsim, palm oil and sunflower], industrial products, cocoa beans and flowers, among others.
The report also shows earnings from coffee exports increased by US$ 46.06mln [33.1 percent], rising from US$ 139.05mln in October 2024 to US$ 185.10mln in October 2025.
“This increase was attributed to higher export volumes despite declining global coffee prices. Export volumes rose by 37.7 percent to 680,000 60-kilogramme bags, up from 500,000 60-kilogramme bags, largely due to increased production from harvests in the Central and Eastern regions,” says the report.
By contrast, coffee export earnings declined on a month-on-month basis due to a reduction in the quantity of coffee exported between September 2025 and October 2025, which more than offset a marginal increase in the unit price of coffee.
According to the report, Italy and Germany were the main destinations for Uganda’s coffee exports in October 2025. “Overall export earnings rose by 55.9 percent to US$ 1.496.45bln in October 2025, up from US$ 959.89mln in September 2025,” says the report.
“This growth was largely driven by higher earnings from gold, cocoa beans, crude oil [from simsim, palm oil and sunflower] and tobacco, among others. Gold and coffee together accounted for 76.8 percent of Uganda’s total exports, highlighting the need to diversify the export base.”
Destination of exports
The Middle East remained Uganda’s leading export destination in the month under review, accounting for 49.1 percent of total exports. At a country-specific level, the United Arab Emirates dominated the region, receiving 98.8 percent of Uganda’s exports to the Middle East. Other key destinations included Asia [19.8 percent], the East African Community [17.5 percent] and the European Union [8.8 percent].
Merchandise imports
Compared with the same month in the previous year, Uganda’s merchandise imports grew by 53.8 percent, rising from US$ 1.021bln n in October 2024 to about US$ 1.6bln in October 2025. This increase was mainly driven by higher formal private sector imports, which more than offset a decline in government imports.
Key private sector imports included mineral products [excluding petroleum], base metals and their products, vegetable and animal products, beverages, fats and oils, among others. On a month-on-month basis, the report says merchandise imports rose by 7.6 percent, increasing from approximately US$ 1.5 billion in September 2025 to US$1.6 billion in October 2025, largely due to higher non-oil formal private sector imports. These comprised mineral products [excluding petroleum], vegetable and animal products, beverages, fats and oils, and miscellaneous manufactured articles, among others.
Origin of imports
In October 2025, Asia remained Uganda’s largest source of imports, accounting for 30 percent of the total import bill. Within Asia, China, India and Japan were the leading sources, accounting for 50.6 percent, 22.3 percent and 8.1 percent of imports, respectively. Other significant sources included the East African Community, the rest of Africa and the Middle East, contributing 29.2 percent, 23.8 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively.
Trade balance with the rest of the world narrows
Compared with October 2024, Uganda’s merchandise trade deficit with the rest of the world narrowed by 70.4 percent, falling from US$ 251.56mln to US$ 74.46mln in October 2025. “This improvement was driven by an increase in exports of US$ 726.84mln, which more than offset a US$ 549.74mln rise in imports over the same period,” says the report.
Similarly, on a month-on-month basis, the trade deficit narrowed by 85.1 percent between September 2025 and October 2025, reflecting a US$ 536.56mln surge in export earnings against a US$ 110.72mln increase in the import bill.
Trade deficit with EAC widens
Uganda’s trade deficit with its East African Community [EAC] Partner States widened significantly in October 2025, reflecting a sharp rise in imports from the region compared with only a marginal increase in export earnings.
During the month, the trade deficit expanded from US$ 103.08mln in September 2025 to US$ 196.29mln in October 2025. The deterioration was driven by a substantial increase in the import bill, which rose by US$ 99.42mln, while exports increased by only US$ 6.21mln. As a result, imports from the region reached US$ 458.65mln, compared with exports of US$ 262.36mln.
At a country-specific level, Uganda recorded trade surpluses with the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Rwanda and Burundi, amounting to US$ 112.42mln, US$ 41.47mln, US$ 25.11mln and US$6.12mln respectively. However, the country posted trade deficits with Kenya and Tanzania of US$81.62mln and US$299.80mln respectively.
On a year-on-year basis, Uganda’s trade balance with the region deteriorated from a surplus to a deficit. In October 2024, the country recorded a trade surplus of US$8.26mln with the EAC, compared with a deficit of US$ 196.29mln in October 2025. The sharp decline was largely attributed to a steep rise in imports, which increased from US$ 222.10mln in October 2024 to US$458.65mln in October 2025, while export earnings rose only modestly from US$ 230.36mln to US$ 262.36mln over the same period.
The surge in imports was driven mainly by Tanzania and Kenya, where imports more than doubled, rising by 111.0 percent and 105.6 percent respectively. In contrast, Uganda’s exports to the two countries declined over the same period, falling by 38.4 percent to Tanzania and by 10 percent to Kenya.
https://thecooperator.news/ugandas-coffee-exports-fetch-shs-8-2-trillion-in-12-months/
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