Uganda’s coffee earnings rose 19 per cent to $21 million in October, due to healthy robusta sales, from $17.65 million in the same month last year, the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) has said.
“Total exports stood at 179,564 60-kg bags worth $21.0 million, an improvement compared to what was recorded in a similar month last year of 172,576 bags valued at $17.65 million,” the body said in an emailed statement.
Robusta volumes increased to 151,485 bags from 132,179 bags in October last year. The bean’s earnings also rose to $17.18 million from $12.74 million in the previous period.
Uganda has become a key player in the production of robusta coffee after a political crisis in former leading African producer Ivory Coast slashed production.
Uganda’s total 2007/08 coffee earnings, for the year to September, shot up 52 percent to $388.4 million on high global prices and robusta volumes from $256 million in the previous period, the UCDA had said last month.
Uganda is Africa’s second biggest coffee grower after Ethiopia, which largely produces arabica.Europe is the main destination for the east African nation’s beans.
Following is a breakdown of robusta and arabica exports, according to the UCDA.
The Monitor