Coffee exports rise in January

Good prospects. The rise in volumes and value presents good prospects for farmers dealing in the commodity.

Uganda’s coffee exports in terms of volume and value increased in January indicating a return of hope for farmers dealing in the commodity.

Data from the Uganda Coffee Development Authority indicates Uganda exported a total of 345,546 bags up from 240,403 bags exported in December.

“In this month [January] the country earned $42.62 million up from $30.13 million earned in December,” the report said.
January’s performance indicated a 53 per cent and 25 per cent increase in volume and value respectively.

The UCDA report also indicates that cumulative coffee exports between October 2012 and January 2013 grew to 988,597 bags compared to 910,905 bags that were exported during the same period last year.

“This represented a 9 per cent increase and 8 per cent decrease in volume and value respectively,” the report said.
Coffee exports for 12 months (February 2012 to January 2013) stood at 2.80 million bags worth $382 million comprising of Robusta [2.0 million bags] and Arabica [0.80 million bags].

The report indicated that Robusta the country’s leading species realised an increase in both volume and value.
“Robusta increased by 65.22 per cent and 67.45 per cent in terms of volume and value respectively”, UCDA said.

Arabica coffees mainly grown in highlands of Eastern Uganda also registered 22.51 percent increase in volume however saw a 21.30 percent drop in value compared to the same period last year 2011/12.
UCDA said: “The comparative sharp drop in value for Arabica is attributed to the drop in global Arabica prices resulting into a corresponding drop in export prices”.

On a year on year basis, coffee exports for the period (February 2012-January 2013) totaled 2.80 million bags worth $382 million.
Farm-gate prices for Robusta (Kiboko) averaged Shs1,800 per kilogramme compared to Shs4,100 per kilogramme and Arabica parchment Shs4,500 for every kilogramme.

On the local scene farm-gate coffee prices were between Shs1,500 and Shs2,000 for every kilogramme for Kiboko (Robusta dry cherries), Shs4,000 and Shs4,300.

Arabica parchment sold for between Shs4, 500 and Shs5,000 per kilogramme. Drugar from Kasese was in the range of Shs4, 200 and Shs4,500 for every kilogramme.

Prices for different varieties
“Coffee exports by type, grade and average realised price for each coffee grade during the month of January 2013. Robusta exports accounted for 76.24 per cent of total exports with the average Robusta price being $1.91 for every kilogramme, 2.00 cents lower than 1.93 in December 2012,” UCDA added.

Washed Robusta fetched the highest price for Robusta at $2.41 per kilogramme, followed by Screen at 18 $2.03 per kilogramme. Arabica fetched an average price of $2.49 for every kilogramme, 4.00 cents lower than the previous month.

The highest price was for Rain Forest Alliance and washed Arabica which was at $ 3.42 per kilogramme followed by Mt. Elgon A+ at $3.16 per kilogramme.

The performance of individual coffee exporting companies in the month of January 2013 in terms of quantity and market share saw Ugacof Uganda Limited top the list with a 14.52 per cent share of the total 72.94 per cent total exports.

Kyagalanyi Coffee, Job Coffee, Kampala Domestic Stores and Lakelands Holdings were the other exporters that followed respectively.
“The first 10 exporters held a market share of 72.94 percent lower than 76.32 percent in the previous month,” UCDA said.