Drought in Brazil pushes up Uganda’s coffee exports
Coffee beans in a plantation. File photo
What you need to know:
There was an increase in Robusta coffee exports of 21.98 per cent and 13.3 per cent in volume and value respectively, while Arabica increased by 82.91 per cent and 88.96 per cent in volume and value respectively compared to the same period last year 2012/13.
Uganda has registered a 23 per cent and 5.20 per cent export increase in both volume and value, respectively for April and May.
The rise is attributed to the continued uncertainty over the Brazilian crop following the drought from the beginning of the year which has pushed local prices upwards.
The latest Uganda Coffee Development Authority report for April, shows the country exported 336,676-kilo bags worth Shs104 billion ($41.07million).
“This comprised 232,019 bags ($24.81 million) of Robusta and 104,657 bags ($16.26 million) of Arabic,” the report noted. There was an increase in Robusta coffee exports of 21.98 per cent and 13.3 per cent in volume and value respectively, while Arabica increased by 82.91 per cent and 88.96 per cent in volume and value respectively compared to the same period last year 2012/13.
UCDA report further added: “On a year to year basis, coffee exports for the period between (May 2013–April 2014) totalled 3.85 million bags worth $426 million (Shs1,086 billion) compared to 3.13 million bags worth $404 million (Shs1,025 billion) in the same period last year (May 2012 -April 2013)”.
Price
The report adds that Organic Robusta coffee farmers earned more at $2.25(Shs5, 737) per kilogramme followed by Screen 18 rated at $2.05 (Shs5, 227) per kilogramme.
Meanwhile, the average Robusta price which accounted for 69 per cent of total exports was rated $1.78 per kilo (Shs4,539) indicating a 5 US dollar cent higher than what was realised in March.
