Uganda’s exports fetched US$ 947.33mln in September 2025
The report, released by the Ministry of Finance, attributes this largely to higher receipts from commodities such as gold, coffee, base metals and their products, crude oil, oil re-exports, as well as fish and fish products
KAMPALA, November 17, 2025 — Uganda’s exports amounted to US$ 947.33 million [approximately Shs 3.3 trillion] in September 2025, representing a 35.8 percent increase from the US$ 697.60mln [about Shs 2.4 trillion] recorded in September 2024, according to the Performance of the Economy Monthly Report, October 2025.
The report, released by the Ministry of Finance, attributes this largely to higher receipts from commodities such as gold, coffee, base metals and their products, crude oil, oil re-exports, as well as fish and fish products.
“Coffee exports benefited from increased domestic production in the Central and Eastern regions,” says the report.
However, on a month-on-month basis, export earnings dropped by 10.32 percent from US$ 1,056.37mln in August 2025 to US$ 947.33mln in September 2025. This decline was driven by lower earnings from commodities including gold, sugar, cocoa beans, oil re-exports, and base metal exports.
Destination of Uganda’s exports
In September 2025, the Middle East remained Uganda’s leading export destination, accounting for 32.98 percent of total merchandise exports. Within this region, the United Arab Emirates dominated the market, absorbing 97.12 percent of Uganda’s exports to the Middle East.
Other key export destinations included the East African Community [25.7 percent], Asia [16.7 percent], and the European Union (15.2 percent).
Imports
Uganda’s merchandise imports increased by 43.6 percent, from US$ 1,015.6mln in September 2024 to US$ 1,458.5mln in September 2025. “This growth was mainly driven by higher formal private-sector imports of mineral products [excluding petroleum], machinery and equipment, vehicles and accessories, petroleum products, base metals and their products, as well as vegetable and animal products, beverages, fats, and oils, among others,” the report notes.
Similarly, on a month-on-month basis, merchandise imports rose by 5.1 percent, from US$ 1,388.2mln in August 2025 to US$ 1,458.5mln in September 2025. “The increase was largely due to higher formal private-sector imports of petroleum products, wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, vehicles and accessories, prepared foodstuffs, tobacco & beverages, and textiles & textile products, among others,” says the report.
Origin of imports
Asia and the East African Community [EAC] remained the primary sources of Uganda’s imports in September 2025, accounting for 30.9 percent and 24.1 percent of total imports, respectively. Other notable sources included the Rest of Africa [22.7 percent], the Middle East [11.1 percent], and the European Union [7.4 percent].
https://thecooperator.news/ugandas-coffee-exports-surge-59-percent-in-september-2025/
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