An Arabica coffee farmer picks ripe red coffee cherries from his farm in Wanale sub county, Mbale district, eastern Uganda. (Xinhua/Daniel Edyegu)
Uganda's coffee export earnings in July rose by 25.85 percent compared to the same month last year, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said Tuesday in its latest monthly report.
KAMPALA, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's coffee export earnings in July rose by 25.85 percent compared to the same month last year, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said Tuesday in its latest monthly report.
The east African country exported 645,832 bags (60 kilos per bag) of coffee and earned 104.99 million U.S. dollars in July, said the report.
"This was an increase of 12.16 percent and 25.85 percent in quantity and value respectively compared to the same month last year," it said.
This photo taken on Aug. 7, 2023 shows coffee beans in roasting process at a local coffee roastery created by Gerald Katabazi in Kampala, Uganda. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
In the year ending July (August 2022-July 2023), Uganda exported 5.83 million bags worth 867.50 million dollars compared to 6.13 million bags worth 862.28 million dollars the previous year (August 2021-July 2022).
"This represents a decrease of 5 percent in quantity and 0.6 percent increase in value. The decrease was pegged on drought and increasing incidence of pests and diseases in Robusta growing areas," the UCDA said.
Italy maintained the highest market share of Uganda's coffee, followed by Sudan, Germany, India and Morocco.
Coffee is one of the major commodities prioritized by Uganda to boost economic transformation. About 1.7 million households in Uganda depend on coffee production, according to the UCDA. ■
