Uganda’s March coffee exports plunge 32% yr/yr on poor harvest

Uganda’s coffee exports plunged 32% year-on-year in March, hurt by a poor harvest in one of the major growing areas, the state-run sector regulator said on Monday.

The east African country shipped a total of 329,686 60-kg bags during the month, Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) said in a report.

“The monthly coffee exports volume was lower than the previous year due (to) a smaller harvest in Elgon region coupled with delays in the onset of the harvest season,” UCDA said in the report, adding a shortage of shipping containers had also affected the exports.

Uganda, which mostly cultivates robusta beans, is Africa’s largest exporter of coffee followed by Ethiopia.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by George Obulutsa)