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Uganda has reached a remarkable milestone as Africa's leading coffee exporter by volume — surpassing Ethiopia in 2025 — while simultaneously holding the distinction of being the continent's largest exporter of organic certified products. With over 200,000 certified organic farmers, fertile soils producing two harvests per year, and a government-backed coffee growth roadmap targeting $1.5 billion in annual export revenue by 2030, Uganda is among Africa's most commercially compelling agricultural origins for international buyers.
In May 2025, Uganda delivered a record 47,606.7 tonnes of coffee — surpassing Ethiopia to become Africa's leading coffee exporter by volume. Over the 12 months to May 2025, Uganda exported 7.43 million 60kg bags of coffee generating $2.09 billion in revenue. Uganda is also Africa's largest exporter of organic products with over 200,000 certified organic farmers — a unique competitive advantage for buyers seeking certified sustainable supply chains.
| Sector | Export Position | Key Markets | Primary Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee (Robusta & Arabica) | Africa's leading exporter | Italy (39%), Germany, India, EU | EUDR, UCDA quality cert, phytosanitary |
| Vanilla | Major global supplier | USA (largest market), EU | Food safety cert, phytosanitary |
| Organic Cotton | Largest organic cotton exporter Africa | EU, USA, Asia | IFOAM organic cert |
| Sesame Seeds | Growing exporter | India, Japan, China | Aflatoxin testing, phytosanitary |
| Fresh Cut Flowers | Growing | EU, Netherlands | Phytosanitary cert, GlobalG.A.P. |
| Cocoa | Growing producer | EU (processing) | EUDR, phytosanitary cert |
| Fresh Vegetables & Horticulture | Developing — Ministry-registered exporters | EU, Middle East | GlobalG.A.P., MRL compliance |
Uganda has approximately 61 licensed coffee export companies, with the top 10 controlling approximately 70% of total export volumes. Italy is consistently the top destination, receiving around 39% of Uganda's coffee. Major licensed exporters include:
Kyagalanyi Coffee Ltd — operating as part of the Sucafina group — is consistently one of Uganda's top coffee exporters by market share. The company focuses on optimising Uganda's potential for specialty Arabica production through agricultural extension programmes and improved processing infrastructure. Sucafina Uganda has secured multi-year, high-value sourcing agreements and is investing in the quality improvements that have contributed to Uganda's dramatic rise in the global coffee market.
Olam Uganda is the local subsidiary of the global agricultural commodities company Olam International. With consistently high market share in Uganda's coffee export sector, Olam Uganda operates across multiple coffee-producing regions, manages quality at processing stage, and has established buyer relationships across Europe, Asia, and North America. Olam's global network provides Ugandan coffee with direct access to roasters and traders worldwide.
Kawacom is one of Uganda's most established coffee export companies, consistently ranking among the top three exporters by market share. The company has deep relationships with smallholder farmer networks across Uganda's major Robusta and Arabica growing regions and has built a track record of reliable, consistent quality delivery to European and Asian buyers over many years of operation.
Uganda's organic farming sector is Africa's largest, with over 200,000 certified organic farmers. This scale creates a significant and commercially compelling source of certified organic agricultural products for European and North American buyers committed to sustainable sourcing. Uganda's main organic exports include:
Uganda's Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) maintains a registry of approved horticultural exporters. This registry includes companies across fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Key registered horticultural exporters include MM Organic Food Exports Ltd, GTI East Africa Ltd, Charic Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters (U) Ltd, and Mkulima Exports Uganda, among others.
Uganda is actively building EUDR compliance infrastructure for its coffee sector. The government has established multi-stakeholder working groups led by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), and private sector companies are investing in farm-level GPS data collection across their smallholder supplier networks. EUDR compliance represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Ugandan coffee — exporters who achieve compliance early will be positioned to serve EU buyers seeking transparent, verified African coffee origins at competitive prices.
ExportReady.africa connects importers with compliance-verified exporters from Uganda and all 54 African nations. Find your next verified Ugandan supplier today.
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