A new brew: Uganda overtakes Ethiopia as Africa’s coffee leader
By willowt // 2025-10-30
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  • Uganda has surpassed Ethiopia to become Africa's top coffee exporter, driven by record-breaking shipment volumes.
  • The country's coffee export earnings have soared, reaching billions of dollars annually and providing a major economic boost.
  • Government-led initiatives, including a massive coffee replanting program and market liberalization, are credited for the sustained growth.
  • Strong global demand, particularly from European markets like Italy, is absorbing the increased production of both Robusta and Arabica beans.
  • This shift highlights the success of Uganda's long-term, coordinated strategy involving both public and private sector investment in the coffee value chain.
In a significant realignment of the global coffee trade, Uganda has unseated Ethiopia as Africa’s leading coffee exporter. This shift, confirmed by record-breaking export data from mid-2025, marks the culmination of a decades-long, strategic effort by the East African nation to transform its agricultural sector. The surge is not merely a statistical blip but a testament to coordinated government policy, private sector investment and a focus on quality that is reshaping Uganda's economic future and altering the continent's agricultural landscape.

The numbers behind the ascent

The transition in leadership became clear in May 2025, when Uganda exported a record 47,606 tonnes of coffee, surpassing Ethiopia’s shipment of 43,481 tonnes from the previous year. This volume represented a 43.6 percent year-on-year increase. The financial rewards have been substantial, with annual export earnings for the 2024-2025 period reaching approximately $2.09 billion. This performance is part of a sustained upward trajectory; just months earlier, in September 2024, Uganda had reported a 59 percent  monthly increase to $218.6 million. The growth is robust across both the dominant Robusta variety, which saw a 50 percent  surge, and the higher-altitude Arabica, whose exports more than doubled.

Seeds of growth: A strategic harvest

Uganda’s rise is not accidental. It is the result of deliberate and sustained policy actions dating back to the 1990s. A pivotal moment was the 1992 liberalization of the Robusta coffee market, which removed government price controls and export taxes, allowing farmers to directly benefit from international market prices and spurring production. This was followed by the strategic National Coffee Policy of 2013, which formalized a cross-sector approach to developing the entire value chain. The most visible initiative was a massive government-led coffee replanting program, which distributed millions of free seedlings to farmers across the country. This effort was uniquely bolstered by partnerships with traditional institutions and faith-based organizations, ensuring widespread adoption and ownership at the local level.

Forging a global reputation

Beyond increasing volume, Uganda has worked diligently to improve the quality and profile of its beans. The country is unique in Africa for being a major producer of both Robusta and specialty Arabica, offering buyers a versatile portfolio. The Uganda Coffee Development Authority and the private-sector Uganda Coffee Federation have been instrumental in driving this quality focus. Their efforts include:
  • Farmer training on improved agronomy and processing.
  • Investing in quality control laboratories.
  • Actively promoting Ugandan coffee at major international trade shows like the World of Coffee in Geneva.
This push has attracted major global traders, such as Sucafina, which has entered into high-value sourcing agreements, signaling strong international confidence in Uganda's coffee future.

The broader economic percolation

The success of the coffee sector is a cornerstone of Uganda's broader economic ambitions. The government views coffee as a key pillar in its plan to dramatically grow national export revenue. The industry supports millions of rural livelihoods and is a critical source of foreign exchange. Furthermore, Uganda is beginning to move beyond merely exporting raw beans, fostering a nascent domestic market of local roasters and cafés that add value within the country. This aligns with a strategic vision where enhancing agricultural output acts as a catalyst for wider industrial growth and economic development.

A continent’s coffee map redrawn

Uganda’s ascent to the top of Africa’s coffee export rankings signals a new chapter for the continent's agricultural economy. While Ethiopia retains its revered status as the birthplace of coffee and a producer of unparalleled heirloom varieties, Uganda has demonstrated the power of a stable, coordinated and growth-oriented strategy. Its success story, built on policy consistency, quality investment and public-private collaboration, provides a compelling model for other agricultural nations. For global markets, it offers a new, reliable and diverse origin. For Uganda, the humble coffee bean is proving to be a powerful engine for economic transformation, brewing a more prosperous future one bag at a time. Sources for this article include: RT.com Intelligence.coffee Facebook.com NilePost.co.ug
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