The International Coffee Organization's (ICO) 2023 report projects a 12.3% increase in Africa's coffee production in 2024 compared to 2023, reaching 20.1 million KG bags. Between October 2023 and March 2024, major African coffee producers such as Cameron, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda supplied 5.5 million bags of 60 kg, representing 27.36% of Africa's total forecasted production for the 2023-2024 coffee year. Notably, the East African country, Uganda, exported 532,212 bags of coffee in September 2024, marking a 53.8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.1
East Africa is famous for its coffee, with three key countries leading in production: Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. These countries export their high-quality coffee to many places around the world, offering unique flavors.
Ethiopia: Ethiopia, known for its high-quality Arabica coffee, has seen significant export activity in the first semester of the 2023-2024 coffee year. The country's coffee supply accounts for 42.8% of the total supply of five selected African producing countries. The majority of Ethiopian coffee is exported to Asia, driven by rising consumption in countries like Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Japan, and emerging markets like China. Europe imports 29.5% of Ethiopian coffee, making it an essential segment for exports. The Americas, particularly North America, represent 7.5% of Ethiopia's supply. Diversifying exports across other regions can mitigate risks from regional economic downturns or trade policy changes.
Rwanda: In the first half of the 2023-2024 coffee year, Rwanda exported 177,000 bags of coffee. Europe led with 39.4% of the total export destination, followed closely by "others" with 40.8%, indicating Rwanda's diverse market reach. America accounted for 12.2%, while Asia and Africa made up 5.1% and 2.5%, respectively. Rwanda's diversification strategy, targeting emerging markets, helps reduce reliance on major regions like Europe, which remains important due to strong demand and established trade links. The Americas and Asia show growing interest, driven by specialty coffee trends and an expanding coffee culture.
Uganda: Uganda's coffee export analysis for the first half of the 2023-2024 coffee year shows Europe as the largest market, accounting for 65.4% of total export destination, making Uganda highly dependent on Europe. Asia follows with 16.4%, driven by growing coffee demand in countries like China, Russia, and Japan. Other African countries import 14% of Uganda's coffee, with Sudan and Morocco as key markets. This intra-African trade signals potential growth, especially with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Americas (4.1%) and Oceania (0.1%) represent smaller but potential markets for diversification to reduce reliance on Europe.
Graph 1: Coffee export volume in green coffee during October 2023 to Mar 2024.
From the graph1 above, during the first half of the 2023-2024 coffee year, Uganda and Ethiopia emerged as the leading African coffee suppliers, contributing 46.3% and 42.8% of total exports, respectively. Other countries made notably smaller contributions, with Côte d'Ivoire at 6.2%, Rwanda at 3.1%, and Cameroon at 1.6%.
If you are an East African coffee producer or involved in the coffee industry, we invite you to connect with us! We are eager to explore collaboration opportunities that can enhance your market reach and support your growth.